What are the most serious side effects of Tezspire injections?

Question

Hi doctor,

My husband, who is 41 years old, has suffered from severe asthma his entire life. He currently uses Breo Ellipta, Spiriva, and Singulair, yet still requires daily albuterol nebulizer treatments. Despite all these medications, he has been hospitalized four times this year due to asthma attacks that do not respond to his rescue inhalers.

He works in construction but has had to reduce his working hours because dust, fumes, and temperature changes trigger his asthma attacks. His pulmonologist recently recommended trying Tezspire injections, as previous biologic treatments (including Dupixent and Fasenra) did not provide significant relief.

His most recent pulmonary function tests show an FEV1 of 54 % predicted, and he requires supplemental oxygen at night.

According to his allergist, he has both allergic and non-allergic triggers, which is why Tezspire may be more effective than the previous biologics he has tried.

My questions are as follows:

How long does it typically take to determine whether Tezspire is effective?
If it works, will he be able to reduce or discontinue some of his current medications?
Most importantly, are there any serious side effects we should be aware of?

He is missing a great deal of work due to asthma attacks, and we are facing a financial crisis as a result. We truly need an effective treatment.

Please help me.

Thanks.

Answer 1

Hi,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I can understand your concern.

It sounds like your husband has been facing significant challenges with his asthma, and your concerns regarding the financial burden and the search for an effective treatment are completely understandable. Tezspire (Tezepelumab) is a relatively new biologic therapy that targets a specific pathway involved in asthma inflammation. It has shown promising results in reducing asthma exacerbations, particularly in patients with severe asthma who have not responded well to other treatments.

What to expect from Tezspire:

How long before Tezspire becomes effective? It typically takes a few weeks to begin noticing improvement, although the full effect may not be apparent until up to 12 weeks. Many patients experience a reduction in the frequency of asthma attacks and improvements in symptoms such as shortness of breath within this timeframe.

Can he reduce other medications if Tezspire works? If Tezspire proves effective for your husband, there may be an opportunity to reduce the dosage or frequency of his current medications. However, this should only be done under the supervision of his pulmonologist. Discontinuing medications prematurely may lead to poor asthma control and an increased risk of exacerbations.

Are there any serious side effects? Tezspire is generally well-tolerated. Common side effects include injection site reactions, headaches, and upper respiratory tract infections. Rarely, it may cause serious allergic reactions or increase the risk of certain infections. It is important to monitor for any unusual symptoms and report them to the healthcare provider promptly.

Probable contributing factors:

Environmental and occupational triggers, such as dust, fumes, and temperature fluctuations.
Inadequate control with current medications (Breo Ellipta, Spiriva, Singulair, Albuterol).
A combination of allergic and non-allergic asthma mechanisms

Recommended investigations:

Regular monitoring of FEV1 and overall asthma control using spirometry.
Review of inhaler technique and treatment adherence.
Allergy testing to better identify and manage specific triggers.

Suggested treatment plan:

Initiate Tezspire therapy as prescribed, with close monitoring of response (initial assessments every four weeks).
Continue existing medications (such as Albuterol, Spiriva, etc.) until the effectiveness of Tezspire is fully evaluated.
Regular follow-up with a pulmonologist to review progress and adjust the treatment plan accordingly.

Follow-up guidelines:

Schedule a follow-up visit within four to eight weeks to assess the response to Tezspire.
Consider gradual tapering of other medications based on asthma control, under physician supervision.
Reinforce proper inhaler technique to optimize medication delivery and effectiveness.

Preventive measures:

Increased wheezing, shortness of breath, or chest tightness despite treatment.
Signs of respiratory infection (fever, cough, increased mucus production).
Any signs of a severe allergic reaction (rash, facial swelling, difficulty breathing).

If you need any more clarification or help with your questions, feel free to ask.

Thank you.