October 11, 2022

Tepezza: Overview, Side Effects & More

Specialty Infusion Blog Elan Katz

What is Tepezza?

Tepezza is used for thyroid eye disease (TED) to reduce symptoms. It is a prescription drug used to treat TED in adults. The immune system targets the adipose and muscular tissue behind the eyes in cases of TED. Double vision, eye discomfort, and eye redness may all result from this. Other names for TED include Graves’ ophthalmopathy, Graves’ orbitopathy, and Graves’ eye illness.

Before taking Tepezza

Inform your healthcare provider if you have an inflammatory bowel illness, diabetes, or hyperglycemia (high blood sugar) to ensure Tepezza is safe for you to use.

Tepezza may be harmful to an unborn child. Use reliable contraception to avoid becoming pregnant while using Tepezza for at least six months following your final dosage. In case of pregnancy, always consult your doctor.

Administration of Tepezza

An intravenous (IV) infusion of Tepezza will be administered, which is an extended injection into a vein (often in your arm). The injections of Tepezza will be every three weeks. The average Tepezza therapy lasts five months. The infusion can be administered in a doctor’s office, an infusion facility, or a hospital. Sometimes, you can get Tepezza infusions at home.

The generic version of teprotumumab is Tepezza. Biological medicine is prepared using components from live things, but there is no biosimilar version of Tepezza. Teprotumumab is exclusively available under the trade name Tepezza.

Tepezza minimizes double vision and bulging of the eyes. It also relieves Thyroid Eye Disease (TED) symptoms, such as eye discomfort, redness, and edema. In this way, Tepezza is a prescription drug used to treat TED. Your healthcare professional should discuss the advantages and disadvantages of taking Tepezza.

Warning, Precautions, and Safety Information for Tepezza

Infusion Reactions

Infusion reactions from Tepezza might occur in 4% of patients receiving Tepezza who have reported experiencing infusion reactions. Reaction with Tepezza infusion might occur during or 24 hours following the infusion. With Tepezza infusion, if you experience an infusion reaction, your doctor or nurse will reduce or stop your infusion while treating the reaction. In severe cases of infusion response, your doctor may discontinue your therapy.

Infusion reactions that have been described have typically been mild to moderate in intensity. Transient rises in blood pressure, feeling hot, tachycardia, dyspnea, headaches, and muscle discomfort are a few signs and symptoms that may appear. Around 1.5 hours after an infusion, infusion reactions are possible. Recommendations can be made to pre-medicating with a corticosteroid, antihistamine, and antipyretic, giving all future infusions at a slower infusion rate in patients who have had an infusion response.

FDA Approval of Tepezza

The FDA approved Tepezza (teprotumumab) for treating individuals with thyroid eye disease. Thyroid eye disease is a rare disorder in which the fatty tissues and muscles behind the eyes become inflamed, pushing the eyes forward and outwards (proptosis). Tepezza was the first FDA-approved medication to treat thyroid eye illness that has been authorized.

Tepezza has been designated as an orphan medicine, which offers incentives to help and promote the production of medications for uncommon illnesses or ailments. The FDA Orphan Medicines Grants Program, which provides grants for clinical investigations on the safety and effectiveness of products for uncommon illnesses or disorders, also contributed to developing this medication.

It must be remembered that Tepezza should not be taken while pregnant, and women capable of becoming pregnant should have their pregnancy status checked before starting therapy. Such individuals should also get pregnancy prevention advice throughout treatment and six months after finishing Tepezza.

Side Effects of Tepezza

The side effects of Tepezza include dry skin, muscle spasms, nausea, fatigue, weakness, altered or diminished hearing, and muscle cramps. Inform your doctor or pharmacist as soon as possible if these side effects persist or become severe.

High Blood Pressure:

Increased blood pressure, a rapid pulse, feeling heated, a headache, and muscular soreness are a few examples of injection response symptoms. If you experience any of these symptoms, contact your doctor immediately. To reduce adverse effects, your doctor may advise you to take additional drugs (like acetaminophen and antihistamines) before each dosage.

Hair Loss:

Hair loss may be temporary due to Tepezza. After therapy, normal hair growth should resume.

Remember that your doctor has recommended this medicine because they believe it will help you more than harm you—several users of this medicine report no significant adverse effects.

GIT Symptoms:

Sometimes, severe side effects like bowel issues (such as diarrhea, bloody stools, stomach discomfort or cramps, or incontinence), menstrual cycle changes (such as missing or delayed periods, spotting), or other symptoms occur. In such cases, call your doctor immediately.

High Blood Sugar Levels:

The blood sugar level may sometimes increase due to this drug, which might aggravate or induce diabetes. In case of high blood sugar symptoms, like increased thirst or urine, immediately call your doctor. If you already have diabetes, check your blood sugar as advised regularly, and inform your doctor of the findings. Medication like antidiabetics, exercise routine, or diet may need to be changed by your doctor.

Allergy:

The medication may cause a very significant allergic response. Therefore, in case of any major adverse reaction symptoms, such as a rash, itching, or swelling (particularly of the face, tongue, or throat), severe dizziness, or difficulty breathing, get medical attention immediately.

Interactions of Tepezza 

Drug interactions might alter how drugs function or raise the possibility of significant adverse side effects. Maintain a list of everything you take, especially herbal medicines, prescriptions, and over-the-counter medications, and provide it to your doctor and pharmacist. Without your doctor’s consent, never start, stop, or alter the dose of any medicines.