Mepolizumab self-administration?

[Joan_Public]

Has anyone started self-administration of their Mepolizumab injections??

I am due to begin self-administration next month and while I am really glad I won't have a fifty mile round trip to the hospital, I do feel a bit anxious about it and so I was wondering if anyone else has started self-injection / been offered this option, and how they are managing or what they think about it?

Thanks

[TuckBox2]

I started self administering last month at the hospital, I will start doing mine at home next week. I have no problems with it, they delivered my new injection on Wednesday with all the essentials, wipes, sharps bin, etc.

It is based on the 'epi-pen' type injections, very simple and easy to use, it is a single use system that is disposed of after use.

It is a simpler system than what I was given for the Semaglutide injections where I have to fit the needle on first prior to injecting myself each week. I started using this 8 weeks ago.

[Joan_Public in reply to TuckBox2]

Hi, thanks for your reply.

Glad to hear you aren't having any problems or issues with the self administration.

Is the Semaglutide for diabetes? So you were already familiar with giving yourself injections?

I have an epic-pen at home. Fortunately, I've never had to use it (probably out of date now, as the hosp gave it to me when I started Xoliar a couple of years ago). I guess its just a touch of anxiety I am having surrounding the whole 'needles' thing, so its good to hear your experience of how easy it is use the self administrated injection.

I've got my last injection at the day unit at the end of next week,. After that, I am going to have someone visit me at home to teach me how to use the new system and then they will deliver 3 months worth of injections at a time to keep at home. Thats good to know that they provide you with a bin to dispose of the used injections. We have a very strict recycling scheme running with my local council and I was unsure about how to get rid of them safely.

Thanks again and very best wishes for a peaceful and happy Christmas and New Year

[TuckBox2 in reply to Joan_Public]

Hi Joan,

As I advised earlier, the Mepolizumab injections are simple to use, take off the cover, inject into the abdominal or thigh area, dispose of injection.

You can have a carer/partner inject into the upper arm if necessary.

All of this information comes in the booklet that your nurse will give you, or one comes in the welcome pack with the injections etc.

I was invited on to the Semaglutide drug trial, I met the criteria as I have recently had a heart attack, I am non diabetic and I am overweight (I do not know if I am on Smaglutide or on the placebo) I started having the injections 25 October.

They have had a trial for patients that have had heart attacks that are diabetic, they say it helps reduce the risk of further heart attacks and they say it helps to lose weight.

I was on Xolair for 4 years, it worked well at the start, but seemed to be less effective after a bout of pneumonia, I was switched to Mepolizumab in May 2017, since I have been on it I have not missed a day off work due to asthma, but I had an episode of diverticulitis in April, then I had a heart attack in August, so at the moment I'm at the hospital quite a bit, but again not for asthma problems.

[Joan_Public in reply to TuckBox2]

So sorry to here that you have recently suffered a heart attack. I hope that you are getting all the care and support you need. It must be incredibly difficult for you managing many complex and challenging health conditions, so I think its brilliant that you are taking part in this trial. Without people like you who are willing to participate in such things, then we would not have the advancements in treatment, like the Mepo for asthma.

I think I would be lost without Mepo, although its not the 'wonder cure,' i too have had significantly less exacerbations and have only had to take 2 courses of steroids since starting it about 18 months ago (this was after i caught a nasty bug, so not sudden, unexplained attacks, but a normal asthmatic person's response to a chest infection). I went through a period after about 7-8 months when I thought it wasn't working as well, but I think it is just as likely to have been down to stress ... a major trigger for me! I managed only 4 months on Xoliar. It made my asthma significantly worse, but I had to take this before they would let me try the Mepo (even tho the nurse thought the Mepo would be better for me, the consultant said I had to try there Xoliar first, as part of the overall protocol for biologics).

Thanks again for your response. It has made me feel more positive and confident about the self-administration.

Is there anyone else out there doing self-administration? Would love to hear how others are finding it.

[Merrytrious in reply to Joan_Public]

I'll be self injecting from February & am looking forward to it. Have never done anything like this previously but my hospital team are brilliant & have fully explained the procedure including showing me how the pen works. With the hands on assistance of the pharmacy nurse for the first two home visits it'll be a breeze. If only it could reduce the cellulite at the same time! You'll be fine.

[Joan_Public in reply to Merrytrious]

Oh yes, that would be nice, reducing the cellulite! Glad you are feeling positive about the new treatment. Good luck with it and Merry Christmas to you and yours.

[corinneyvonne]

Hi Joan_Public

I am waiting to start self admin with Mepolizumab and am itching to get going 😂. We are just waiting for the ‘green light’ in my authority. It will be so much easier for me then the usual half day visit to the hospital 🤦‍♀️. I am one of the lucky ones as Mepo has been the ‘miracle’ drug for me 🙏.

Good luck and a very Merry Christmas to you and all the best for 2020.

Corinne x

[Joan_Public in reply to corinneyvonne]

Thanks for your reply. Yes, its great that we won't have to be visiting the hospital to get the Mepo . So glad that it is working well for you.

Happy Christmas and best wishes for the year ahead.

[Singinglouder]

Not injecting for asthma, but four or five times a day for diabetes. The worst injection is the first one - I practised on a little purple duck, then stood there on the big day with two nurses watching me, thinking I don’t want to do this... Then I plucked up the courage, stuck the needle in, pressed the button, and thought - well, that was easy. Never had a problem since.

For the sharps, check with your surgery about local procedure. GPs prescribe the bins, and here (Dorset) I sign it and take it back to the surgery, but my last place, in Lincolnshire, the council collected them - the same chap that cleared addicts’ needles from parks coming up my drive in full protective gear to collect my little yellow box, which I found hilarious. Think back to the surgery is more usual, tho!

All the best - I’m sure you’ll be fine.

[Joan_Public in reply to Singinglouder]

Thanks for sharing your experience I sound like a wimp worrying about if I will be able to inject myself once a month compared to what you have to do to manage your diabetes.

I think I will confirm with the hospital about who is responsible for safe disposal of the used injections. This hasn't really been made clear to me in the information I have been given about the treatment.

Yes, i think its that first injection I am feeling a bit scared about. I'm sure I will be OK after that. . Wishing you all the best for Christmas.

[Singinglouder in reply to Joan_Public]

No, you’re not a wimp. It’s a scary thing to do - until you actually have to do it, when you discover it’s not nearly as bad as you think. I only said how many jabs I’m on to let you know I’ve had some practice! Hope you don’t worry about it too much - and I’m sure it will all go well when you get there. Have a great Christmas - thinking about other things!