Fasenra is highly advertised. We made this point last week. Just because a medication is trendy does not mean it’s right for you. Fasenra is a good example. Let’s look at the new drug, Fasenra, which is prescribed for Eosinophilic Asthma. Although highly advertised, it might not work on your type of asthma. It is generally accepted that a blood test will show you the truth about your Eosinophils. But we found out this is not always the case.
Using Fasenra has much to do with your asthma action plan. It is also related to overall health history and your other medications as it does with your eosinophil count. Read on for more clues about Fasenra. It’s more than an advertisement.
Blood Tests Don’t Tell All about Eosinophils or Fasenra
Technicians Count Your Eosinophils…
However, the use of Fasenra might not be simply cut and dried, or positive or negative. Findings justifying the prescription of Fasenra can be many shades of gray. This depends on your case. In a recent interview, Dr. Alabi pointed this out.
A Few Notes on Asthma with Eosinophils and Fasenra, from Our Own FLASS Founder, Dr. Fortune Alabi
- You might be surprised to know that “The medication works also in people with normal eosinophils…” but it “just works better in those with elevated eosinophils in the blood,” says Dr. Alabi, founder Florida Lung, Asthma, and Sleep Specialists.
2. He pointed out that “There are people that meet the criteria for eosinophilic asthma phenotype with normal eosinophils in the blood.” He added, “Somebody on steroid may have an undetectable level of eosinophils but still benefit from the medication.”
3. Likewise, he explained we must remember, “This is not the only medicine approved for blocking eosinophils in asthma. Nucala and Conguair have been in the market longer.”
In Britain, Fasenra Approval Means More than Meets the Eye: Diagnosis and Budget…
A Proper Fasenra prescription relies on medical history as well as tests and your doctor’s experience and wisdom.
Meanwhile, we have fresh news from England’s health authorities. NICE, the National Institute for Health Care Excellence concerning Fasenra.
“It hasn’t been an easy couple of months for AstraZeneca when it comes to challenging Glaxo-Smith-Kline’s Nucala (mepolizumab) with newcomer Fasenra (benralizumab).”
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) made this announcement. It will recommend the Fasenra med “only under certain conditions—and only in patients who can’t use Nacala.”
Ironically, this has nothing to do with the efficacy of the medicine. The judgment of the regulators’ concerns cost.
NICE stated, “that there hasn’t been a head-to-head competitive scientific study between the two drugs.” And that an “indirect comparison” of the drugs showed “no difference” in asthma exacerbations. But “compared with mepolizumab, when this is a treatment option, benralizumab is not cost-effective.” And it “cannot be recommended as an alternative to mepolizumab,” NICE said. So AstraZeneca’s eosinophilic asthma champion will have to fight for supremacy.” It may have to go “toe-to-toe with Glaxo-Smith-Kline’s champ, Nacula…”
Even British Medical Regulations Establish There Is One Incidence in which Fasenra is Both Good Medicine and Good Value
Fansenra does represent a cost-effective alternative to Teva’s Cinqair. Cinquair is another medicine for fighting severe asthma. NICE Reported it this way. “So in Cinqair-eligible patients—who have a certain blood eosinophil count and have had at least three episodes of sudden asthma worsening in the past year—Fasenra is a go…” Again, they mention this only for patients that can not tolerate Nucala.
Fasenra Fascinating Facts
1. The online resource, “Drug Development Technology” made this comment. “An estimated 315 million people are affected by asthma worldwide. And “around 10% have a severe form of the disease that is uncontrollable despite high doses of standard asthma controller medicines with oral corticosteroids.”
FLASS recommends you always know the details about your asthma medications. Remember Fasenra is not an emergency inhaler. It is an injection given by your health care provider.
And as we all know, “Uncontrolled asthma has a higher risk of mortality than controlled severe asthma.” Thus drugs like Fasenra are a Godsend to suffering patients.
2. “The eosinophils present in approximately 50% of severe asthma patients are associated with increased asthma severity and symptoms.”
3. Do not use Fasenra to treat other problems caused by eosinophils.
4. Avoid taking Fasenra in an emergency situation. Remember, scientists did not intend it to be an emergency drug to treat a sudden breathing problem
5. Once again we caution you to avoid using this drug if you are allergic to benralizumab or any ingredients listed on the medicine.
6. Do not stop using oral or inhaled corticosteroid medicines unless your healthcare provider instructs you to do so.
7. As you might guess, our FLASS advice is to avoid receiving this drug if you are pregnant, breastfeeding or planning a pregnancy.
Fasenra Factors you should know
A complete medical history is necessary before you obtain this medicine. Share knowledge with your specialist. Remember to explain all your medications from other physicians and healthcare givers to your asthma specialist. Discuss any herbals or over-the-counter drugs you take as well as other your prescriptions before receiving Fasenra.
- Plan Your Schedule! This is an injectable drug. A healthcare provider will inject it subcutaneously it every 4 weeks for the first three doses and every 8 weeks thereafter.
- Know Your Possible Side Effects! The most commonly known side effects of this medicine are headaches and sore throat.
- Check Your Drug Allergies! However, the most serious types of side effects are allergic reactions. These may include symptoms such as swelling of the face, breathing problems, fainting, dizziness, low blood pressure, and rash or hives.
Thus, between Part I and II of our coverage of this highly hyped asthma drug, in these last two FLASS blogs. We hope you have a good picture of the value of Fasenra in cases of extreme, uncontrolled asthma. At least, with these blogs, we believe you know more than if you only watched the 60-second television advertisement.
Until our next blog, FLASS reminds you to watch out for your summer triggers and “Happy Breathing.”