Patient Leaflet Updated 30-May-2023 | AstraZeneca UK Limited
Fasenra 30 mg solution for injection in pre filled pen
Fasenra® 30 mg solution for injection in pre-filled pen
benralizumab
1. What Fasenra is and what it is used for
2. What you need to know before you use Fasenra
3. How to use Fasenra Pen
4. Possible side effects
5. How to store Fasenra Pen
6. Contents of the pack and other information
Fasenra contains the active substance benralizumab, which is a monoclonal antibody, a type of protein that recognises and attaches to a specific target substance in the body. The target of benralizumab is a protein called interleukin-5 receptor, which is found particularly on a type of white blood cell called an eosinophil.
Fasenra is used to treat severe eosinophilic asthma in adults. Eosinophilic asthma is a type of asthma where patients have too many eosinophils in the blood or lungs.
Fasenra is used together with other medicines to treat asthma (high doses of ‘corticosteroid inhalers’ plus other asthma medicines) when the disease is not well controlled by those other medicines alone.
Eosinophils are white blood cells involved in asthma inflammation. By attaching to the eosinophils, Fasenra helps to reduce their numbers and inflammation.
Fasenra may reduce the number of asthma attacks you are experiencing, help you breathe better and decrease your asthma symptoms. If you are taking medicines called ‘oral corticosteroids’, using Fasenra may also allow you to reduce the daily dose or stop the oral corticosteroids you need to control your asthma.
Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before you are given Fasenra:
Also, talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist when you are given Fasenra:
Fasenra is not a rescue medicine. Do not use it to treat a sudden asthma attack.
Fasenra can potentially cause serious allergic reactions. You must look out for signs of these reactions (such as hives, rash, breathing problems, fainting, dizziness, feeling lightheaded and/or swelling of your face, tongue or mouth) while you are taking Fasenra.
It is important that you talk to your doctor about how to recognise early symptoms of serious allergic reactions and how to manage these reactions if they occur.
Do not suddenly stop taking or change the dose of your preventer medicines for your asthma once you have started Fasenra.
If your response to the treatment allows it, your doctor may try to reduce the dose of some of these medicines, especially ones called ‘corticosteroids’. This should be done gradually and under the direct supervision of your doctor.
Do not give this medicine to children below the age of 18 because the safety and benefits of this medicine are not known in this population.
Tell your doctor if you are taking, have recently taken or might take any other medicines before using Fasenra.
If you are pregnant or breast-feeding, think you may be pregnant or are planning to have a baby, ask your doctor for advice before using this medicine.
Do not use Fasenra if you are pregnant unless your doctor tells you otherwise. It is not known whether Fasenra could harm your unborn baby.
It is not known whether the ingredients of Fasenra can pass into breast milk. If you are breast-feeding or plan to breast-feed, talk to your doctor.
It is unlikely that Fasenra will affect your ability to drive and use machines.
Always use this medicine exactly as your doctor has told you. Check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist if you are not sure.
The recommended dose is an injection of 30 mg. The first 3 injections are every 4 weeks. After this, injections are 30 mg every 8 weeks.
Fasenra is given as an injection just under the skin (subcutaneously). You and your doctor or nurse should decide if you should inject Fasenra yourself. You should not inject Fasenra yourself if you have not received Fasenra previously and if you had previous allergic reaction with Fasenra.
You or your caregiver should receive training on the right way to inject Fasenra. Read the ‘Instructions for Use’ for the Fasenra Pen carefully before using Fasenra.
If you have forgotten to inject a dose of Fasenra, talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse as soon as possible.
Do not stop treatment with Fasenra unless your doctor advises you to. Interrupting or stopping the treatment with Fasenra may cause your asthma symptoms and attacks to come back.
If your asthma symptoms get worse while receiving injections of Fasenra, call your doctor.
If you have any further questions on the use of this medicine, ask your doctor, pharmacist or nurse.
Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.
Seek medical attention immediately if you think you may be having an allergic reaction. Such reactions may happen within hours or days after the injection.
Not known (the frequency cannot be estimated from the available data):
Common (these may affect up to 1 in 10 people):
Common (these may affect up to 1 in 10 people)
If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. You can also report side effects directly via the Yellow Card Scheme website: www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard or search for MHRA Yellow Card in the Google Play or Apple App Store. By reporting side effects you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.
Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children.
Fasenra Pen is for single-use only.
Do not use this medicine after the expiry date which is stated on the label and the carton after ‘EXP’. The expiry date refers to the last day of that month.
Store in the original package in order to protect from light.
Store in a refrigerator (2 °C to 8 °C).
The Fasenra Pen may be kept at room temperature up to 25 °C for a maximum of 14 days. After removal from the refrigerator, Fasenra must be used within 14 days or discarded, and the discard date should be written on the carton.
Do not shake, freeze or expose to heat.
Do not throw away any medicines via wastewater. Ask your pharmacist how to throw away medicines you no longer use. These measures will help protect the environment.
The active substance is benralizumab. One pre-filled pen of 1 mL solution contains 30 mg benralizumab.
The other ingredients are histidine, histidine hydrochloride monohydrate, trehalose dihydrate, polysorbate 20 and water for injections.
Fasenra is a solution which is colourless to yellow. It may contain particles.
Fasenra is available in a pack containing 1 pre-filled pen.
This leaflet was last revised in December 2022.
© AstraZeneca 2022
FASENRA and FASENRA PEN are registered trademarks of the AstraZeneca group of companies.
RSP 22 0122
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Product name Reference number
Fasenra 30 mg solution for injection in pre-filled pen 17901/0350
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