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Benlysta
Used for Lupus, Lupus Nephritis
Used for Lupus, Lupus Nephritis
Benlysta (belimumab) is a biologic medication used to treat autoimmune conditions like systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and lupus nephritis in adults and children. You can receive it in two ways: as a once-weekly injection under your skin or as an IV infusion once per month from a healthcare professional. Common side effects include nausea, diarrhea, and fever.
What is Benlysta (belimumab)?
What is Benlysta (belimumab) used for?
- Add-on treatment for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in people ages 5 years and older
- Add-on treatment for lupus nephritis (kidney damage related to SLE) in people ages 5 years and older
How Benlysta (belimumab) works
Benlysta (belimumab) is a type of biologic medication called a BLyS-specific inhibitor. It works by blocking a protein called B-lymphocyte stimulator, which lowers the activity of B cells in your immune system, including the ones that attack your body by mistake. This can help reduce inflammation.
When does Benlysta (belimumab) start working?Time passed since treatment started:
Drug facts
| Common Brands | Benlysta |
|---|---|
| Drug Class | BLyS-specific inhibitor |
| Controlled Substance Classification | Not a controlled medication |
| Generic Status | No lower-cost generic available |
| Availability | Prescription only |
More on Benlysta (belimumab) essentials
Side effects of Benlysta (belimumab)
The following side effects may get better over time as your body gets used to the medication. Let your healthcare provider know immediately if you continue to experience these symptoms or if they worsen over time.
Common Side Effects
- Nausea (15%)
- Diarrhea (12%)
- Fever (10%)
- Common cold (9%)
- Bronchitis (9%)
- Difficulty sleeping (7%)
- Pain in arms or legs (6%)
- Depression (5%)
- Migraine (5%)
- Sore throat (5%)
Note: Side effects listed were reported by people who received Benlysta (belimumab) IV infusion for SLE. People who used the SC injection had similar side effects.
Less Common Side Effects
- Bladder infection
- Stomach flu
- Urinary tract infection (UTI)
- Headache
- Injection site reactions - SC injection only
Benlysta (belimumab) serious side effects
Contact your healthcare provider immediately if you experience any of the following.
- Severe infection: fever, chills, pain or burning while urinating, urinating often, coughing up mucus, warm/red/painful skin or sores on the body
- Serious allergic reaction: itching, swelling of the face, trouble breathing, anxiety, low blood pressure, dizziness or fainting, headache, nausea, skin rash
- Mental health problems: thoughts of self-harm or dying, attempting to commit suicide, trouble sleeping, anxiety, depression, impulsivity, changes in behavior or mood
The following Benlysta (belimumab) side effects have also been reported
Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.
Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:
More common
Bladder pain
bleeding, blistering, burning, coldness, skin discoloration, feeling of pressure, hives, infection, inflammation, itching, lumps, numbness, pain, rash, redness, scarring, soreness, stinging, swelling, tenderness, tingling, ulceration, or warmth at the injection site
bloody or cloudy urine
body aches or pain
chest pain or tightness
chills
cough producing mucus
difficult, burning, or painful urination
difficulty with breathing or swallowing
dizziness
ear congestion
frequent urge to urinate
headache, severe and throbbing
hives, skin rash
itching, pain, redness, swelling, tenderness, or warmth of the skin
joint pain
loss of appetite
lower back or side pain
muscle aches and pains
pain or tenderness around the eyes and cheekbones
puffiness or swelling of the eyelids or around the eyes, face, lips, or tongue
stuffy or runny nose
sweating
swelling of the eyes, face, or inside of the nose
trouble breathing
unusual tiredness or weakness
vomiting
Less common
Black, tarry stools
blood in the urine or stools
discouragement
fast heartbeat
feeling sad or empty
hoarseness
irritability
loss of interest or pleasure
painful or difficult urination
pale skin
pinpoint red spots on the skin
sores, ulcers, or white spots on the lips or in the mouth
tender, swollen glands in the neck
trouble concentrating
trouble sleeping
unusual bleeding or bruising
voice changes
Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:
More common
Arm or leg pain
Less common
Stomach pain
Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.
Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
Get your GoodRx coupon
N/A
GoodRx discount
$4938.15
Pros and cons of Benlysta (belimumab)
Pros
- Targets a specific part of the immune system
- Available as an IV infusion or self-injection
- Safe for both children and adults
Cons
- Must use with other medications
- Raises the risk of infections
- Can take several months to see benefits
Pharmacist tips for Benlysta (belimumab)
- Mark your calendar for appointments when taking Benlysta (belimumab). This helps you not miss doses and lets your prescriber check how well it’s working and if you have side effects.
- If you receive Benlysta (belimumab) as an IV infusion, it usually takes about 1 hour. Plan your time so you can stay for the full treatment.
- Benlysta (belimumab) can raise your risk of serious infections. Get medical help right away if you have fever, cough, trouble breathing, or feel very weak during treatment. You might have to stop taking the medication so your body can fight and fully recover from the infection.
- Tell your care team right away if you have signs of an allergic reaction after Benlysta (belimumab). These can include trouble breathing, swelling, rash, dizziness, or a fast or slow heartbeat.
- Though rare, Benlysta (belimumab) can affect your mood. Tell your care team if you feel depressed or have thoughts of self-harm.
- TTell your prescriber or pharmacist before getting vaccines while taking Benlysta (belimumab). You shouldn't receive live vaccines during treatment because it's not known if Benlysta (belimumab) might interact with the vaccine.
- Pregnancy: Tell your prescriber if you’re pregnant or planning to become pregnant while using Benlysta (belimumab) since it's not known whether the medication is safe during pregnancy. To prevent pregnancy, use birth control during treatment and for at least 4 months after your last dose.
- Breastfeeding: Talk with your care team about breastfeeding while taking Benlysta (belimumab). It’s not known if it’s safe for your baby.
How to give Benlysta (belimumab) injections at home
- Benlysta (belimumab) comes as a 200-mg prefilled syringe or autoinjectors=. If your dose is 400 mg, you will need two injections.
- Store the medication in the refrigerator in its original box. You can leave it at room temperature for up to 12 hours, but don't put it back in the fridge after.
- Before injecting, take the medication out of the fridge and let it sit for about 30 minutes. Don't try to heat it up any other way.
- If using the prefilled syringe: Hold the syringe and insert the needle into a pinched area of the skin at a 45° angle using a dart-like motion.
- If using the autoinjector: Hold the autoinjector at a 90° angle and make sure the gold needle guard is flat on the skin. Watch the window to make sure the dose is given.
- Inject into the fat under your skin in your stomach (at least 2 inches away from your belly button) or front of your thighs. Don't inject it into muscle or a vein.
- Rotate where you inject. Don't use the same spot twice in a row or inject into sore or damaged skin.
- After injecting, throw away the syringe or autoinjector in a sharps container. Don't put it in regular trash.
Risks and warnings for Benlysta (belimumab)
Benlysta (belimumab) can cause some serious health issues. This risk may be even higher for certain groups. If this worries you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about other options.
Serious infections
- Risk factors: Severe infection | Long-term or recurrent infection | Taking medications that weaken your immune system
Benlysta (belimumab) can lower your body’s ability to fight infections, which can increase your risk of serious or life-threatening infections. Common serious infections include pneumonia, UTIs, and bronchitis. Get medical help right away if you have symptoms like fever, cough, trouble breathing, confusion, or chills, since you might need to stop treatment while your body recovers.
Benlysta (belimumab) can also raise your risk of a rare but serious brain infection called progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML). Get medical help right away if you notice symptoms like weakness on one side of your body, clumsiness, or changes in your vision, memory, or personality.
Serious allergic reactions
- Risk factors: Receiving Benlysta (belimumab) as an IV infusion
Serious allergic reactions can happen with Benlysta (belimumab), including life-threatening reactions like anaphylaxis. If you receive it as an IV infusion, you could also have infusion-related reactions, such as rash, hives, or trouble breathing. These reactions usually happen within a few hours, but they can occur up to a week later.
Get medical help right away if you have symptoms like dizziness, sweating, nausea, swelling of your face, lips, or tongue, a choking feeling, or trouble breathing after using Benlysta (belimumab).
Depression and thoughts of suicide
Some people taking Benlysta (belimumab) in clinical studies reported depression and thoughts of self-harm. Tell your prescriber if you or your loved ones notice changes in your mood or behavior.
Get help right away if you have thoughts of hurting yourself while taking Benlysta (belimumab). Your prescriber might have you stop the medication depending on how severe your symptoms are.
Risk of cancer
- Risk factors: History of cancer
Using immunosuppressants like Benlysta (belimumab) could raise your risk of certain cancers, but it’s not clear how much this medication affects that risk. Your care team will weigh the benefits and risks before starting Benlysta (belimumab), especially if you have a history of cancer or risk factors.
Avoid live vaccines
Avoid live vaccines for 30 days before and during treatment with Benlysta (belimumab). This is because it’s not known if they’re safe, and Benlysta (belimumab) can affect how your immune system responds to vaccines.
Before starting this medication, make sure you’re up to date on your vaccines. Tell your prescriber or pharmacist before getting any vaccines while taking this medication.
Benlysta (belimumab) dosage
The average cost for 1 carton of 4 autoinjectors of 200mg/ml of Benlysta (belimumab) is $4,938.15 with a free GoodRx coupon.
Autoinjector
Carton
Syringe
Autoinjector| Dosage | Quantity | Price as low as | Price per unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 200mg/ml | 4 autoinjectors | $4,938.15 | $1,234.54 |
Carton| Dosage | Quantity | Price as low as | Price per unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 autoinjectors of 200mg/ml | 1 carton | $4,938.15 | $4,938.15 |
| 4 prefilled syringes of 200mg/ml | 1 carton | $4,938.15 | $4,938.15 |
Syringe| Dosage | Quantity | Price as low as | Price per unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 200mg/ml | 4 syringes | $4,938.15 | $1,234.54 |
Typical dosage for Benlysta (belimumab)
Your care team will choose your dose of Benlysta (belimumab) based on your condition, your age, and your weight. It also depends on how you receive it, either as an infusion through a vein or an injection under the skin.
Intravenous (IV) injection:
- SLE and lupus nephritis: The typical dose is 10 mg/kg injected into your vein every 2 weeks for 3 doses by a healthcare professional. After 3 doses, the dose will be given every 4 weeks.
Subcutaneous (SC) injection:
- Adults:
- SLE: The typical dose is 200 mg injected under the skin once per week.
- Lupus nephritis: The typical dose is 400 mg injected under the skin once per week for 4 doses, then 200 mg once per week.
- Children 5 to 17 years:
- SLE:
- Weigh 40 kg or more: The typical dose is 200 mg injected under the skin once per week.
- Weigh 15 kg to less than 40 kg: The typical dose is 200 mg injected under the skin every 2 weeks.
- Lupus nephritis:
- Weigh 40 kg or more: The typical dose is 400 mg injected under the skin once per week for 4 doses, then 200 mg once per week.
- Weigh 15 kg to less than 40 kg: The typical dose is 200 mg injected under the skin once per week for 4 doses, then 200 mg every 2 weeks.
- SLE:
Interactions between Benlysta (belimumab) and other drugs
Benlysta (belimumab) may interact with certain medications or supplements. Always let your doctor and pharmacist know about any other medications or supplements (including prescribed and over-the-counter medications, vitamins, and dietary or herbal supplements) that you are currently taking. The list below does not include all possible drug interactions with Benlysta (belimumab). Please note that only the generic name of each medication is listed below.
Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking this medicine, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.
- Tofacitinib
How much does Benlysta (belimumab) cost?
To access savings, use a GoodRx coupon and pay just a fraction of the retail price.
Benlysta (brand)
$4,938.15
What are alternatives to Benlysta (belimumab)?
There are a number of medications that your doctor can prescribe in place of Benlysta (belimumab). Compare a few possible alternatives below.
News about Benlysta (belimumab)
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