Is Tezepelumab effective for severe asthma?

Question

Hello doctor,

I was hoping you could help explain Tezspire a bit. My cousin is 35 and has severe asthma that keeps flaring up, even though she is already using multiple inhalers and steroids. Her pulmonologist recently mentioned this new injection as a possible option, but we are still not clear on how it works or how often it is given. She is exhausted from ending up in the ER every few months. We are also curious about any side effects or things to watch for after the first few doses. Is Tezspire actually a better option for people who have already tried everything else? Please help.

Thank you.

Answer 1

Hi,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I understand your concern about managing severe asthma (a long-term (chronic) type of asthma that is harder to control than regular asthma, a breathing disorder), especially when standard treatments like inhalers and steroids are not providing enough relief. Tezspire (Tezepelumab) is one of the newer biologic therapies approved for patients with severe asthma, particularly those with an eosinophilic phenotype.

Before starting Tezspire, it is important to get a blood test to check your cousin’s eosinophil count and IgE (immunoglobulin E) levels. Elevated eosinophils often indicate that the asthma is eosinophilic in nature, and this type of asthma tends to respond well to biologic treatments like Tezspire.

Tezspire is administered as an injection once every four weeks, which can be a more convenient option compared to daily medications. Like any medication, it does have potential side effects. Some of the commonly reported ones include abdominal pain, gastritis (stomach inflammation), nausea, vomiting, and constipation. It is important to monitor for these, especially after the first few doses, and report any unusual or severe symptoms to the treating doctor.

I hope this helps.

Kindly revert so I can assist you further.

Thank you.