0

Home > Drug Category > Immunosuppressive Agents > Benlysta and Equivalent

Benlysta Information

Benlysta (Belimumab) is primarily prescribed for the treatment of adults and children five years of age and older who have active systemic lupus erythematosus. It is also used to treat individuals with active lupus nephritis, a condition in which the disease affects the kidneys. It's used alongside standard treatments like steroids or other immunosuppressants to help keep these diseases under control. The active ingredient in this medication is belimumab. It belongs to a class of drugs known as B-lymphocyte stimulator-specific inhibitors and is categorized as a monoclonal antibody. This medication works by binding to a protein in the blood called B-lymphocyte stimulator. This protein is necessary for the survival and development of B cells, which are a type of white blood cell. By binding to this protein and blocking it, this medication causes these B cells to die. This is helpful because, in people with lupus, these B cells are overactive and create the proteins that attack the body's own tissues.

Systemic lupus erythematosus is an autoimmune disease in which the body's defense system becomes confused and starts attacking healthy organs and tissues instead of germs. This can cause a range of symptoms, including joint pain, extreme tiredness, and skin rashes. When the immune system attacks the kidneys, it leads to lupus nephritis, which can be quite serious and potentially lead to kidney failure if it isn't managed. Benlysta helps by lowering the number of specific white blood cells that are causing this internal damage. By doing this, it appears to help reduce the frequency of symptom flares and may suggest a lower risk of long-term organ damage. It often helps patients reduce the amount of steroid medication they need to take, which is often used in long-term treatment.

Benlysta Side Effects

Some possible side effects of this medication include diarrhea, dry eyes, fever, headache, heartburn, joint pain, nausea, pain in legs or arms, redness, pain, swelling, itching, warmth, and bruising at the injection site, sore throat, stuffy or runny nose, symptoms of vaginal yeast infection in women (such as vaginal odour, curd-like discharge, itching), tiredness, toothache, trouble sleeping, vomiting, and weight gain. Contact your doctor if these common side effects persist or worsen.

Stop taking this medicine and contact your doctor immediately if you experience any serious side effects, including the following:
• Allergic reactions such as breathing difficulties, body itching, body rash, skin blistering, swelling of the face, mouth, tongue, lips, or throat;
• Anxiety;
• Depression with symptoms like poor concentration, changes in weight, changes in sleep, decreased interest in activities, thoughts of suicide;
• Electrolyte imbalances such as low potassium levels in the blood with symptoms like weakness, fatigue, muscle cramps, irregular heartbeat;
• Fast heartbeat;
• Infection with symptoms like fever or chills, severe diarrhea, shortness of breath, prolonged dizziness, cough, headache, and stiff neck;
• Infusion reaction with symptoms like low blood pressure, dizziness, slow heartbeat, and shortness of breath;
• Persistent cough;
• Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy with symptoms like memory loss, trouble thinking, confusion, and vision loss;
• Speech difficulty;
• Sudden high blood pressure;
• Urinary tract infection with symptoms like pain when urinating, urinating more often than usual, low back or flank pain

Inform your doctor about any other side effects you notice that are not listed here.

Benlysta Precautions

Do not use this medicine if you are allergic to belimumab or any other ingredients in Benlysta. Before using this medication, ensure you inform your doctor about any medical conditions you previously or currently have, including the following:
• Cancer;
• Current infections;
• Depression;
• Diabetes;
• Electrolyte imbalances such as low levels of potassium;
• Heart disease;
• High blood pressure;
• Kidney disease;
• Liver disease, such as hepatitis B or C infection;
• Reversible posterior leukoencephalopathy syndrome;
• Weakened immune system

Live vaccines should be avoided entirely while on Benlysta and for at least 30 days before starting. Because this medication suppresses the immune response, a live vaccine could potentially cause the disease it’s meant to prevent. Therefore, avoid live vaccines while taking this medication. While there isn't enough data yet to definitively say it’s safe or harmful regarding birth defects, belimumab is not recommended for use in pregnant and breastfeeding women. You may need to stop breastfeeding while taking this medication. The current recommendation is for women of reproductive age to use effective contraception during treatment and for four months after the last dose. Belimumab is not suitable for use in children younger than 5 years or children younger than 18 years but with active lupus nephritis. While Benlysta doesn't have a long list of traditional drug interactions, it is still imperative to inform your doctor about all the medications, including herbal medications and supplements, you are taking before starting Benlysta to prevent drug interactions.

Benlysta is available as a vial containing lyophilized powder for reconstitution into an injectable infusion administered intravenously. It is also available as an autoinjector for subcutaneous injection. Healthcare providers typically run the IV infusion for about an hour in a clinical setting. Infusion reactions can happen during the infusion or even several days later. This involves anything from a mild rash to full-blown anaphylaxis. For the first few doses, patients are usually monitored very closely because the risk is highest then, but it never truly drops to zero. Patients usually follow a loading schedule of three doses every 2 weeks before switching to a monthly maintenance cycle. If you use the subcutaneous version, you’ll likely inject the medication into your thigh or abdomen once a week. You must rotate the injection site every time to prevent tissue irritation. Refrigerate this medication between 2°C and 8°C, protect it from direct sunlight, and keep it out of the reach of children. Do not allow the medication to freeze. Finally, always let the prefilled syringe reach room temperature for 30 minutes before use.

Do I need a prescription to order Benlysta?

Yes, a prescription is required from your physician to order Benlysta.