What is the most important information I should know about reslizumab?
Some people have had allergic reactions to reslizumab during or shortly after the injection. Tell your caregiver if you feel nauseated, light-headed, itchy, or have swelling in your face or trouble breathing.
What is reslizumab?
Reslizumab is used together with other medicines to help control severe asthma in adults.
Reslizumab affects your immune system, reducing levels of a certain type of white blood cell that may contribute to the symptoms of asthma.
Reslizumab may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before receiving reslizumab?
You should not be treated with reslizumab if you are allergic to it.
Tell your doctor if you have ever had a parasite infection (such as roundworms or tapeworms).
Using reslizumab may increase your risk of developing cancer. Ask your doctor about this risk.
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant. It is not known whether reslizumab will harm an unborn baby. However, having uncontrolled asthma during pregnancy may cause premature birth, a low birth weight baby, or complications such as eclampsia (dangerously high blood pressure that can lead to medical problems in both mother and baby). The benefit of treating asthma may outweigh any risks to the baby.
It may not be safe to breastfeed while using this medicine. Ask your doctor about any risk.
How is reslizumab given?
Before you start treatment with reslizumab, your doctor may perform tests to measure your white blood cells.
Reslizumab is given as an infusion into a vein, usually once every 4 weeks. A healthcare provider will give you this injection.
This medicine must be given slowly, and the infusion can take 20 to 50 minutes to complete.
You will be watched closely for a short time after each injection, to make sure you do not have an allergic reaction.
If you also use a steroid medication, you should not stop using it suddenly. Follow your doctor's instructions about tapering your dose.
Reslizumab is not a rescue medicine for asthma attacks. Seek medical attention if your breathing problems get worse quickly, or if you think your asthma medications are not working as well.
Use all asthma medications as directed. Your dose needs may change due to surgery, illness, stress, or a recent asthma attack. Do not change your dose or dosing schedule without your doctor's advice. Tell your doctor if any of your medicines seem to stop working.
What happens if I miss a dose?
Call your doctor for instructions if you miss an appointment for your reslizumab injection.
What happens if I overdose?
Since this medicine is given by a healthcare professional in a medical setting, an overdose is unlikely to occur.
What should I avoid while receiving reslizumab?
Follow your doctor's instructions about any restrictions on food, beverages, or activity.
What are the possible side effects of reslizumab?
Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Some side effects may occur during or shortly after the injection. Tell your caregiver if you feel dizzy, nauseated, light-headed, itchy, short of breath, or if you have swelling in your face.
Common side effects may include:
- sore throat; or
- muscle pain.
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
What other drugs will affect reslizumab?
Other drugs may affect reslizumab, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Tell your doctor about all your current medicines and any medicine you start or stop using.
Where can I get more information?
Your doctor or pharmacist can provide more information about reslizumab.
Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.
Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.
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