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Benralizumab (Fasenra)

Medication Information Leaflet

What is this medication for?

Benralizumab is an antibody, selective for interleukin-5, which plays an important role in the inflammation process. It is used to treat severe asthma by helping to reduce inflammation in the airways.

How should I take or use this medication?

Administer exactly as your healthcare professional has told you. 

Do not stop your medication without checking with your healthcare professional.

Benralizumab is available as a pre-filled syringe and an autoinjector pen. Please refer to the individual product inserts for the respective administration techniques.

Check the expiry date of the injection, do not use if it has passed the date

In general, allow the injection to sit at room temperature for 30 minutes after removing it from the fridge before administration. Do not shake/share/re-use the injection. 

The injection should be clear to pale yellow in colour and may contain small white particles. Do not use it if you notice the liquid is discolored, cloudy or contains  large particles.

There may be a small air bubble in the liquid. This is normal.

You can inject under the skin into the fatty tissue at the upper arm, thigh or abdomen area.

For each injection, choose a different site that is at least 3 cm away from where you last injected.  

What should I do if I forget to take or use this medication?

If you forget to administer a dose, do it as soon as you remember. Then administer your next dose at the usual time. Do not administer two doses to make up for the missed dose.

What precautions should I take when taking or using this medication?

Inform your healthcare professional if:

You are allergic to this medication or any of the other ingredients of this medication
You are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding
You are taking any other medications, including supplements, traditional medications and herbal remedies

What are some common side effects of this medication?

The side effects for Benralizumab are usually mild and generally well tolerated. They include the following:

Burning sensation, redness, pain or itching at the injection site
Headache
Sore throat

These symptoms may happen but they should get better over time. Check with your healthcare professional if any of these symptoms worsen or do not go away.

What are some rare but serious side-effects that I need to seek medical advice immediately?

The symptoms of a drug allergy include one or more of the following:

Swollen face/eyes/lips/tongue
Difficulty in breathing
Itchy skin rashes over your whole body

If you experience any of these symptoms, you should stop your medication and see your healthcare professional immediately.

What food or medication should I avoid when I take or use this medication?

How should I store this medication?

Store in the refrigerator (2-8 °C). Do not freeze. Do not expose to heat. Store the injection in the original packaging to keep away from light. Keep this medication away from children.

How do I throw away this medication safely?

If used at home, throw away this injection, along with the needle, into a metal tin or glass jar so that you will not get any injuries from getting pricked by the needle accidentally. If used at the hospital, your healthcare provider will dispose of the injection and needle in an appropriate sharps container.

Disclaimer

Please take note that the above is not a complete list of all possible side effects. If you have any concerns about your medication or if you have other side effects that you think are caused by this medication, please consult your doctor or pharmacist.

If you take more than the recommended dose, please seek medical advice immediately. The information provided on this page does not replace information from your healthcare professional. Please consult your healthcare professional for more information.

This article is jointly developed by members of the National Medication Information workgroup. The workgroup consists of cluster partners (National Healthcare Group, National University Health System and SingHealth), community pharmacies (Guardian, Unity and Watsons) and Pharmaceutical Society of Singapore. The content does not reflect drug availability and supply information in pharmacies and healthcare institutions. You are advised to check with the respective institutions for such information.

Last updated on Apr 2023

This article was last reviewed on Tuesday, August 01, 2023