What is Nucala?

Nucala is a prescription medication that can be used to treat severe eosinophilic asthma. Eosinophilic asthma is a rare subtype of asthma that is often severe and has an onset in adults. The condition is characterized by having an increased in the white blood cells, called eosinophils, in the respiratory system. Nucala is a treatment option for some asthma patients, especially those with eosinophilic asthma. Nucala is not used to treat sudden breathing problems in asthma.

Nucala, For Patients 12 and Older

Nucala is a subcutaneous injection and is not for everyone. Patients must be at least 12 years or older. Having severe asthma can be very limiting and if regular medications are not controlling the symptoms appropriately, then Nucala injections may be the answer. The recommended dose of Nucala is 100 mg administered once every 4 weeks. The drug now comes as a prefilled autoinjector pen and a prefilled syringe. Both these newer administration preparations mean that patients do not always have to go to the doctor’s office to get injections. Patients can now give themselves injections at home after receiving some injection training. If you are interested to see if Nucala can be added to your treatment plan, then reach out to us by calling 805-658-9500 for more information.

How Nucala Works

Nucala injection works by reducing the specialized white blood cells called eosinophils. Eosinophils can trigger inflammation in both the lungs and airways if there are too many of them. Nucala has been proven to prevent severe asthma attacks or exacerbations. The active drug ingredient in Nucala is mepolizumab.

Nucala Safety

Nucala can cause mild to serious side effects. The most common side effects of Nucala include: headaches, injection site reactions (i.e., pain redness, itching, swelling, or burning in the injection area), back pain, fatigue. Most of these side effects may go away within a few days or a couple of weeks. If these side effects do not go away, it is very important to talk to your doctor or pharmacist. Serious side effects are not common, but can occur. Serious side effects involve allergic reactions and herpes zoster infection. It is important to talk to your doctor right away if there is a serious side effect. For more safety information on Nucala, call us at 805-658-9500.

Is Nucala right for your asthma?

Reach out to us at Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology Medical Group to see if Nucala could be beneficial to your asthma treatment. Asthma management depends on many factors including your age, asthma severity, and regular medications. If you have questions on Nucala or other asthma medications, then contact us by calling 805-658-9500 to speak with one of our asthma doctors.