Author: Lourdes

INFLUENZA VACCINE

Flu season is around the corner.Our offices will provide influenza vaccines starting September 2019. All Asthmatics please contact your local office to check availability at that time. Thank you for trusting us with your care during this Flu season.

Fasenra

FASENRA (Benralizumab)

• Fasenra is a medication for patients with eosinophilic asthma and works by reducing the number of eosinophils in your blood.
• Fasenra is administered as a shot under the skin. It is given once every four weeks for the first three doses, then once every eight weeks.
• After you receive a dose of Fasenra, most infusion centers will monitor you for a period of time to make sure you do not have any reactions to the medication.
• The most common side effects with Fasenra are:
• Headache
• Sore throat
• Severe allergic reaction (Rare)

Cinqair

CINQAIR (Reslizumab)

• Cinqair is also a medication for patients with eosinophilic asthma. It is also works by reducing the number of eosinophils in your blood.
• Cinqair is administered as an intravenous infusion (through the vein). It takes about 20 to 50 minutes to receive the infusion. It is given once every four weeks.
• After you receive a dose of Cinqair, most infusion centers will monitor you for a period of time to make sure you do not have any reactions to the medication. 
• The most common side effects with Cinqair are: 
• Sore throat
• Muscle aches
• Severe allergic reaction (Rare) 

Biologic Therapy Drugs

XOLAIR (Omalizumab)

• Xolair is a medication for patients with poorly controlled asthma and allergies due to year-round allergens (dust mites, pet dander, or cockroach debris). Xolair blocks the Antibody that causes an allergic asthma response. 
• Xolair is given as one or two subcutaneous injections (shots given under the skin), depending on the dose prescribed. 
• Xolair is given every two or four weeks depending on the dose prescribed. 
• After you receive a dose of Xolair, most infusion centers will monitor you for a period of time to make sure you do not have any reactions to the medication. 
• The most common side effects with Xoliar are:
• Muscle aches
• Joint aches
• Fatigue
• Injection site reaction
• Severe allergic reaction (Rare) 

BIOLOGIC THERAPY

Asthma is a complex disease. Many patients are able to control asthma with inhaler therapy. Some patients with severe asthma have frequent symptoms or “episodes” where their asthma gets much worse even though a patient is using more than one inhaler. Now there are options called Biologic therapy to help patients with severe asthma. Biologic therapies offer new ways of treatment because they target different molecules in the body that contribute to asthma. Our patients who are currently receiving Biologic therapy have all had positive outcomes not only with symptom control but quality of life.