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Biological therapy.

pmrdec112014 profile image
23 Replies

I have been reading through all the posts on biological therapy.I have literally this week just heard that I qualify for Tezspire.

The wait time is about 4 weeks.

I am wondering who else is having this / had it and how they are getting on .

Thank you.

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pmrdec112014 profile image
pmrdec112014
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23 Replies
Mark-f profile image
Mark-f

been on them over ten years , In fact I was one of the first , I’ve been on three different ones

Xolair

Mepolizomab

And the the last 4 years Benralizumab, I self administer my own injections now and have done for around 3 years .. been very good and improved my symptoms massively!!

Good luck with it

runcyclexcski profile image
runcyclexcski in reply toMark-f

Mark, did you stop the first two because they'd stopped working?

Mark-f profile image
Mark-f in reply toruncyclexcski

Yes .. it can take a while to find the rite one that suits

Patk1 profile image
Patk1 in reply toMark-f

How often do u do Yr benralizumab x

Mark-f profile image
Mark-f in reply toPatk1

xolair and mepolizomab every 4 weeks , Benralizumab every 8 weeks but it definitely seems to loose some effectiveness after 6 weeks

Patk1 profile image
Patk1 in reply toMark-f

Thanx.yes I find it wears off,which isn't gd x

Biggles2612 profile image
Biggles2612

I have been on Benralizumab for the last year and I find it to be amazing . No exacerbations and rarely use blue inhaler

Mickeyboy2020 profile image
Mickeyboy2020

hi, yes I’ve been on this drug for best part of a year now. I’ve been ok on it and I think it’s been good for me, few aches and pains but that could be old age/statins who knows , now 66. I’ve been on prednisalone now for more years than I can remember, doses ranging from 50 mg down to 30 mg daily. This drug has enabled me to reduce my daily dose of prednisalone down to 2 mg over a period of a year, also another benefit is that I hardly have to use my Blue salbutamol inhaler also don’t get so breathless as I used to and sometimes going weeks without needing it, I mainly have to use only when I have a chest infection of which I seem to be getting more of them than I would like, whether this is due to the tezapire I’m not sure, I think they are monitoring this

Hope this helps and works for you

I’ve been on all the biologics as they came out but they all stopped working after a while, this has been the best one yet in my eyes and you have the benefit of self administering at home.

Good luck

Mike

pmrdec112014 profile image
pmrdec112014 in reply toMickeyboy2020

Thank you every one for your replies, particularly Mike's as he is currently on the Tezspire which I am specifically interested in.I don't have eosonaphillic asthma at all just ( I say just) infection based, which has literally taken over my life and completely floored me in the past two and half years since getting covid twice.

I have always had to have regular courses of steroids since diagnosis 31 years ago but the past year in particular I have had to have 6 courses of steroids, often for many weeks at a time.

Currently at my very very worse physically as well as emotionally.

A lot hinges on this drug which is the only biologic I can be approved for as far as I am aware.

Jamesd1234 profile image
Jamesd1234

Hi, I’m pleased to hear you will be elegible for this treatment . I am curious to know how you found the process to become eligible?

I am also going through the process to try and get this myself, but going through tests to ‘proove my asthma’ because my lung function tests came back positive . However, I am severely allergic to almost everything and am waking up coughing up phlegm and having asthma issues every night and every spring to autumn for 8 years. Recently had chest / sinus infections and 3 courses of steroids. I am due to have an allergy induced asthma test and an x ray next week to check my lungs and maybe had Covid in October as still over producing phlegm on my lungs. Really hoping I can get this biologic treatment too!

pmrdec112014 profile image
pmrdec112014 in reply toJamesd1234

After regular repeated flares and infections and tons of steroids I was referred to the severe asthma clinic last June by my chest physican at my local hospital.I am on high dose combined inhaler ( have been changed to a few different ones over the past two or three years) as well as Spiriva Respirmat.

I was seen in the severe asthma clinic in Oct and then have been seen in the walk in clinic.

I am on long term steroids for another condition so they felt that the steroids were masking some of the inflammation.

However a ct scan showed lots of inflammation apparently consistent with small air ways disease and then in March when feeling ill again my FENO test was high and so the case was put to panel and approved.

I also hav chronic sinus problems of which I have had a few ops for.

Jamesd1234 profile image
Jamesd1234 in reply topmrdec112014

Wow, that sounds very intense but I’m glad you have had the help and getting the treatment you need. Good luck with the biologics…. I also have lot of nasal problems although asthma maybe not as severe. I hope the injections help and thank you for explaining the process

Mickeyboy2020 profile image
Mickeyboy2020

hopefully it will sort you out, be positive. Just taken this months dose, they’ve given me a new type of pen to administer instead of a syringe. Lot less fuss. Wish you luck I’m sure you’ll be fine 👍🏻

sciencepotato profile image
sciencepotato

hi, I've just been approved too and will update you once I get my jab.

Hope it will work wonders for you!

pmrdec112014 profile image
pmrdec112014 in reply tosciencepotato

That's great news! It took exactly 1 month from date of approval to having 1st one so hopefully similar time frame for you if not sooner!

sciencepotato profile image
sciencepotato in reply topmrdec112014

Brilliant! Pleased for you that no noticeable side effects - long may it continue and hope it'll be absolutely life changing in the best way possible.

No idea when the first jab will be yet - just had an appointment with the consultant this week to confirm I'll be getting tez.

Do you feel any different yet? :)

sciencepotato profile image
sciencepotato in reply topmrdec112014

hey, I'm getting my first jab in a couple of weeks. I'm absolutely floored with chest infections, at the moment I'm getting over a strep pneumonia bug. It's just non stop, either starting in my sinuses and or directly in the chest. Let's hope that tez will help as both as frankly I can't go on like this any longer, being almost constantly on abx.

pmrdec112014 profile image
pmrdec112014

Just had my first injection yesterday at Guys! Shattered from the build up and the travelling but otherwise all good. No side effects to date!

libbie142 profile image
libbie142

I’ve been on tezspire for 6 months now and it’s been brilliant. Only had one flare up in the time, maintenance prednisolone dose has reduced by more than 50%, and I need my salbutamol far less now. I seem to feel quite rough for the first 24-48 hours after the injection, like I’m coming down with something - tired, achey, headache. But it’s short lived and totally worth it! Good luck with yours!

pmrdec112014 profile image
pmrdec112014 in reply tolibbie142

That's really great news for you and sounds very positive.I felt I had a bit of a throat for a day or so but not sure if it was due to injection or viral or just in head!

Other than that I don't feel any different

I am still coughing at times but possibly less.

Did it make you feel any different or just don't need so many steroids.

I presume you on Tespire as no other biomarkers for the other biological?

libbie142 profile image
libbie142 in reply topmrdec112014

I think a sore throat is a more common side effect, hopefully it’s not something you get too often. For me, it’s mainly joint pain and generally feeling lousy! it’s made me feel so much better asthma wise though. I used to be wheezy and breathless most days and coughed a lot. Now, I’d say I have minor symptoms about 2/3x month (ish) and usually notice a slight increase in symptoms in the days before my injection is due but they’re manageable and don’t interfere with day to day life in the way they used to.

It didn’t work immediately for me. I noticed a slight improvement within about 3 weeks of starting tezspire but I’d say it took a good 2-3 months before the benefits became fully apparent. So hopefully you’ll continue to notice small improvements the longer you’re on it :)

pmrdec112014 profile image
pmrdec112014 in reply tolibbie142

That's very positive news for you and hopefully for me! Thank you.

Annezac profile image
Annezac

I have just been approved to have Tezspire and I am waiting for my appointment. Its very encouraging to read all these comments. I'm 69 and have controlled my asthma for years. However the last 15 months has been horrendous, with 4 hospital admissions and since January my asthma has been very uncontrolled. I was referred to the severe asthma clinic and have had to jump through all the hoops to get approval. Fingers crossed this works for me and good luck to anyone who is still waiting for approval!

I am convinced that all this has been caused by 2 bouts of Covid prior to my first hospital admission!

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