Nucala is a brand name for prescription medication. It’s a form of mepolizumab which is a biological type of drug. A biological type of drug is derived from living cells and not chemicals like most drugs. The medication helps to treat two conditions: severe eosinophilic asthma in children and adults of 12 years and older and eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA) in adults.
There are three main forms of Nucala available. They include:
- An injection under our skin is also known as a subcutaneous injection.
- As a Prefilled syringe
- A pre-filled auto-injector pen
You can administer the last two forms of Nucala on your own at home after getting some training from your healthcare provider. Furthermore, the last two forms of Nucala got the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval recently in June 2019.
How Effective is Nucala Autoinjector?
Nucala autoinjector is quite effective in the treatment of two conditions:
Severe eosinophilic asthma
Research shows that Nucala Autoinjector helps to reduce the severe attacks that people with severe eosinophilic asthma experience. An example is an attack that will require the patient to stay in the hospital or visit the emergency room. The researchers uncovered that it could reduce the number of severe attacks twice as much as no medication (placebo).
Eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA)
Nucala is also effective in treating EGPA. A one-year study shows that at least 40% of people with EGPA experience remission in the first nine months after Nucala treatment. The same study suggests that a placebo has a remission rate of 16%.
What are the Side Effects of the Nucala Autoinjector?
Nucala may cause mild to severe side effects on users. Your doctor can help you determine the possible side effects of Nucala in your case. They also recommend appropriate measures to cope with these side effects. Some of the most common mild side effects of Nucala include:
- Backpain
- Headache
- Lack of energy (fatigue)
- Injection site reactions like itching, redness, pain, burning, or swelling in the injection area.
- Eczema
- Pruritis
- Upper abdominal pain
- Urinary tract infection
- Muscle and back pain
- Influenza
- Herpes zoster infection
Serious side effects of Nucala Autoinjector
In some cases, people may experience some severe side effects of Nucala allergic reactions, and herpes zoster infection are the more severe effects of Nucala. It is best to call your doctor or 911 if you experience severe symptoms of using Nucala.
Allergic reactions
You may experience mild allergic reactions, including skin rash, itchiness, and flushing (warmth and redness in your skin). Some people also experience severe symptoms of an allergic reaction, including:
- Trouble breathing
- Feeling dizzy or faint
- Swelling in your mouth, tongue, or throat
- Angioedema (swelling below your skin, typically in your hands, lips, eyelids, or feet)
However, studies show that the risk of developing allergic reactions to Nucala autoinjector is 1% to 4%.
Herpes zoster infection (Shingles)
Shingle is a viral infection similar to chickenpox. Some symptoms of shingles include:
- Blistering rash
- Shooting pain in the area with a rash
- Burning or tingling feeling
- Fever
You can get your Nucala autoinjector from UBACARE, and it will be shipped directly to you.
