Precautions
When you get Benlysta from the pharmacy, the pharmacist will add an expiration date to the label on the box. This date is typically 1 year from the date they dispensed the medication. The expiration date helps guarantee that the medication is effective during this time.
How long does Benlysta last?
Benlysta is given as an infusion into a vein, usually every 2 to 4 weeks. A healthcare provider will give you this injection. The medicine must be given slowly, and the infusion can take about 1 hour to complete.
How is Benlysta given?
For Benlysta given by IV infusion, your dose is based on your body weight. The normal dose is 10 mg/kg of weight. Therefore, in someone who weighs 150 lb (68 kg), their dose would be 680 mg. It’s usually takes about an hour to receive the dose by infusion.
How much Benlysta do I take for weight loss?
Of the patients experiencing a severe flare, the median time to the first severe flare was delayed in patients receiving Benlysta plus standard therapy compared with placebo plus standard therapy (171 days vs. 118 days).
How long does Benlysta plus standard therapy delay flare-ups?
Is benlysta a long term medication?
Conclusion: Belimumab added to standard therapy was generally well-tolerated over the 4-year treatment period in patients with SLE, which suggests that belimumab can be administered long term with an acceptable safety profile.
How long does it take to get a benlysta infusion?
IV infusion It's usually takes about an hour to receive the dose by infusion. You'll get your dose in your doctor's office or in the hospital. When you first start taking Benlysta by IV infusion, you'll get a dose every 2 weeks. After the first three doses, you'll only need to get a dose once every 4 weeks.
How often are Benlysta infusions?
BENLYSTA IV is administered as a 1-hour infusion 10 mg/kg administered every 2 weeks for the first 3 doses and every 4 weeks thereafter.
Is benlysta a form of chemo?
No, BENLYSTA is not chemotherapy – it's a biologic therapy, delivered either through an IV infusion or as a self-injection. It works by reducing certain cells in your immune system that can make lupus active.
How fast does BENLYSTA work?
Belimumab works by reducing the activity of a type of white blood cell called B-cells that produce the antibodies. This reduces the inflammation that causes the symptoms of lupus. It's a long-term treatment, so it may be up to six months before you start to notice the benefits.
What are the long term effects of BENLYSTA?
In controlled clinical trials of BENLYSTA administered intravenously, serious infections occurred in 6.0% and 5.2% of patients receiving BENLYSTA and placebo, respectively. The most frequent serious infections included pneumonia, urinary tract infection, cellulitis, and bronchitis.
How much is a BENLYSTA infusion?
The cost for Benlysta intravenous powder for injection 120 mg is around $612 for a supply of 1 powder for injection, depending on the pharmacy you visit. Prices are for cash paying customers only and are not valid with insurance plans.
What does BENLYSTA do for you?
Benlysta is the FIRST FDA-approved medication specifically designed for the treatment of lupus. Benlysta targets specific immune cells, rather than the blanket approach of other therapies which suppress the entire immune system.
Where do you inject BENLYSTA?
Inject under the skin (subcutaneously) of your stomach (abdomen) or thigh once a week on the same day each week. Only use each autoinjector once. Then dispose of it safely after use. Do not share your BENLYSTA autoinjector with other people.
How long is chemo for lupus?
However, it may take several weeks for symptoms to improve, and several months or more for complete remission. Doctors may prescribe cyclophosphamide for 3–6 months until a person's lupus goes into remission. After this, a doctor may prescribe a less potent medication with fewer risks of side effects.
What is the life expectancy for lupus?
The prognosis of lupus is better today than ever before. With close follow-up and treatment, 80-90% of people with lupus can expect to live a normal life span. It is true that medical science has not yet developed a method for curing lupus, and some people do die from the disease.
Does BENLYSTA make tired?
You will likely be very tired after your infusion and you may need downtime or help.
Is Benlysta a chemotherapy drug?
No, Benlysta isn’t a chemotherapy drug. It’s a type of drug called a monoclonal antibody (a biologic drug made from immune system cells). People wi...
Can I take Benlysta with antibiotics?
There are no known drug interactions between Benlysta and antibiotics. However, because Benlysta can weaken your immune system, it shouldn’t be tak...
If I’m having surgery, can I still use Benlysta?
Yes, you can still take Benlysta if you’re having surgery. There are no recommendations about stopping treatment for surgery. Some biologic drugs m...
Does Benlysta help with fatigue from lupus?
Yes. Benlysta can help relieve your lupus symptoms, including fatigue (lack of energy). Clinical studies have shown that people taking Benlysta may...
Why would my doctor recommend Benlysta infusions instead of subcutaneous injections?
Benlysta can be given in two ways: as an intravenous (IV) infusion that goes into your vein, or as a subcutaneous injection that goes under your sk...
How can I keep track of my injection sites while using Benlysta?
If you’re taking Benlysta by subcutaneous injection, it’s very important that you keep track of where you’re injecting the drug each week. This is...
Will I have side effects if I stop taking Benlysta?
No, Benlysta shouldn’t cause any side effects when you stop taking it. However, while you’re taking Benlysta, your symptoms may be decreased. Once...
When was Benlysta approved?
Benlysta is a human monoclonal antibody that was approved for the treatment of lupus by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on March 9, 2011 and for lupus nephritis on December 17, 2020. A monoclonal antibody is a type of protein made in the laboratory that is developed to find and attach to only one type of substance in the body.
What does FDA approval of Benlysta mean?
What does an FDA approval of Benlysta mean for people with lupus? Benlysta represents a breakthrough in the treatment of lupus. Benlysta is the first drug approved to treat lupus in more than 50 years AND is the first drug developed specifically for lupus since the disease was discovered more than a century ago!
What is Benlysta antibody?
Benlysta is a human monoclonal antibody that specifically recognizes and blocks the biological activity of B-lymphocyte stimulator, or BLyS® (pronounced bliss), a naturally occurring protein which was discovered by scientists at Human Genome Sciences (HGS). Elevated levels of BLyS prolong the survival of B cells which can contribute to ...
What are the side effects of Benlysta?
The most commonly reported adverse reactions with Benlysta were nausea, diarrhea, fever, inflammation of the nose and throat, bronchitis, insomnia, pain in extremity, depression, and migraine.
Can you take Benlysta with Lupus?
Yes. On April 26, 2019 the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the use of Benlysta in children as young as five years of age. Learn more. However, Benlysta has not yet been approved to treat lupus nephritis in children.
Is Benlysta safe for everyone?
Each person with lupus is unique, and Benlysta may not be an option for everyone. You will need to discuss with your doctor whether Benlysta may be an appropriate treatment option for you. Benlysta is approved for the treatment of adults and children five years and older with active, autoantibody-positive systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) ...
Does Benlysta work for Lupus?
Benlysta targets specific immune cells, rather than the blanket approach of other therapies which suppress the entire immune system. Currently approved medications for lupus are borrowed from other diseases and conditions; other treatments are used off-label, which means they were never approved by the FDA for lupus.
How long does Benlysta last?
The half-life of Benlysta is 1.8 days, and it has a terminal half-life of 19.4 days. For the subcutaneous injection of Benlysta, the peak concentration of Benlysta is 108 mcg/mL, which takes about 2.6 days to reach. Clearance is 204 mL/day. The volume of distribution of the subcutaneous drug is 5 L.
How often is Benlysta given?
The IV infusion is administered once every 2 weeks for three doses. Then a maintenance dose is only administered every 4 weeks. IV dosing is usually 10 mg/kg.
How much Benlysta is in a milliliter?
It’s available in one strength: 200 mg per milliliter (mg/mL). Benlysta belongs to a group of medications called biologics. These are drugs made from living cells. Specifically, Benlysta is a monoclonal antibody (a biologic drug made from immune system cells).
What is Benlysta used for?
A type of nephritis (kidney inflammation) that’s caused by lupus. For this condition, Benlysta is prescribed for lupus nephritis that’s active in adults. With lupus, your immune system attacks your body. The condition can cause symptoms such as joint pain, rash, fever, or kidney problems.
What is subcutaneous Benlysta?
A subcutaneous injection is an injection given under the skin. The dosage for Benlysta given this way isn’t based on your weight. Instead, it’s based on the condition you’re treating. This form of Benlysta is only approved for adults.
How long does it take to take 400 mg of Lupus?
For lupus nephritis, your dose is 400 mg injected under your skin once per week for 4 weeks. (You’ll use either two prefilled syringes or two prefilled autoinjectors for each dose.)
What are the side effects of Benlysta?
These are called injection site reactions and may include symptoms such as pain, redness, or swelling at the injection site.
Coping with how Benlysta is given
Having previously taken rituximab, the Benlysta was a completely different experience. The rituximab of course was a 6-hour process every 2 weeks, and the Benlysta is 1 injection every week. Week 2 was a little different. I still experienced weakness and feeling tired.
Exhaustion of lupus and treatments
It is so exhausting being a new mom and trying to stay in school and on these injections and other meds. I feel like I am overloaded. My mother told me that my eyes were swollen, she told me that it looks like I was not sleeping enough. But you really do not have that option being a parent.
Giving it a shot
I think I am going to try this drug for another month and then if I do not have a better outcome I am going to give up on the injection. I want the drug to work so bad because I am not one person who loves hospitals. I cannot stand having to be in the hospital and stay in the hospital for weeks at a time.
Not giving up yet
I feel like I would be giving up too easily, but you know every drug adds on another drug and then another drug. Then you are taking like a million pills to counteract another drug. It is not easy to walk around with a zip lock back full of pills, then people start to think that you’re a drug addict or something.
Cabin Trip Lupus Flare Up
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How long before Benlysta can you give live shots?
Live vaccines should not be given for 30 days before or concurrently with BENLYSTA as clinical safety has not been established. No data are available on the secondary transmission of infection from persons receiving live vaccines to patients receiving BENLYSTA or the effect of BENLYSTA on new immunizations. Because of its mechanism of action, BENLYSTA may interfere with the response to immunizations.
Is Benlysta cyclophosphamide a biologic?
The efficacy of BENLYSTA has not been evaluated in patients with severe active lupus nephritis or severe active central nervous system lupus. BENLYSTA has not been studied in combination with other biologics or intravenous cyclophosphamide. Use of BENLYSTA is not recommended in these situations.
Can Benlysta be administered as an injection?
BENLYSTA may be administered as an intravenous infusion or as a subcutaneous injection. Vials are intended for intravenous use only (not for subcutaneous use) and autoinjectors and prefilled syringes are intended for subcutaneous use only (not for intravenous use).
Can Benlysta be used in combination with other biologics?
BENLYSTA has not been studied in combination with other biologic therapies, including B-cell targeted therapies, or intravenous cyclophosphamide. Therefore, use of BENLYSTA is not recommended in combination with biologic therapies or intravenous cyclophosphamide.
