Scientific studies show that reslizumab (Cinqair) is a safe medicine. But any drug can cause side effects in some people.
Most side effects from reslizumab are mild and will go away within a few weeks once your body gets used to the drug. In rare cases, though, side effects could be serious.
How to Manage Mild Side Effects From Reslizumab (Cinqair)
One of the most common side effects of reslizumab is muscle pain. About 1 to 2 out of every 100 people taking this medicine have muscle, joint, or bone pain. Throat pain is also common.
The pain might start on the day of the IV or days afterward. Some people have muscle spasms or weakness.
If you have these symptoms, talk to your doctor. To make yourself more comfortable:
- Take an over-the-counter pain reliever like acetaminophen or ibuprofen if your doctor says it's OK.
- Place a heating pad or ice pack on the sore area. You might alternate heat and ice if that feels good.
- Take a warm shower or soak in a warm bath with Epsom salts.
- Massage the painful spot.
Other common, but mild, side effects of reslizumab include:
Worse asthma symptoms. Reslizumab usually wards off asthma symptoms, but it could make these symptoms worse in a small number of people. If your asthma becomes harder to control or gets worse after a reslizumab IV, see your doctor for other treatments to get your wheezing and other symptoms under control.
Colds, flu, and other respiratory infections. Reslizumab treats asthma by lowering the number of a type of white blood cells called eosinophils in your body. These same cells also help your immune system fight infections. With fewer white blood cells, you may notice that you get more colds, flu, and other respiratory illnesses.
Most infections should clear up on their own. Rest and drink lots of fluids until you feel better. See your doctor for treatment if the condition doesn't go away in a week or two.
Headache. Like other prescription meds, reslizumab can sometimes cause a headache. An over-the-counter pain reliever like aspirin, ibuprofen, or acetaminophen may be enough to ease it. Tell your doctor if the headache doesn't go away.
How to Manage Serious Side Effects of Reslizumab (Cinqair)
It's not common, but reslizumab could cause some side effects that are serious and even potentially life-threatening. They include:
Severe allergic reaction. Reslizumab is made from a protein. In some people, the immune system sees this protein as foreign and reacts to it. The reaction could be life-threatening. Tell your doctor before your IV if you've ever had an allergic reaction to this medicine or any other medicines. Also, tell your doctor about any other allergies you have.
In studies, 0.3% of people who took reslizumab had a dangerous allergic reaction called anaphylaxis. Most reactions happened within 20 minutes after they got reslizumab. The possibility of a serious allergic reaction is why you have to get this medication in a hospital or medical center.
A doctor or nurse will closely watch you during and after you get the IV. If you have a reaction, they’ll stop reslizumab immediately and treat you with epinephrine (adrenaline), oxygen, and other medicines.
Signs of anaphylaxis include:
If you have these symptoms after getting a reslizumab infusion, tell your doctor or get medical help right away.
Cancer. A few people who’ve taken reslizumab have learned they had cancer afterward. But the chance of this happening is low. Reslizumab reduces eosinophils, and some think these cells might help protect against cancer. Researchers haven’t proven this theory, though.
In studies, 0.6% of people who took reslizumab got cancer, compared to 0.3% of people who got a fake treatment (placebo). The cancers were different types, but they all happened within 6 months after the reslizumab IV. Tell your doctor if you notice any new or unusual symptoms after you take reslizumab.
Parasitic infections. Eosinophils may help your body fight parasitic infections like whipworm or hookworm. Reslizumab could make it harder for your immune system to combat these types of diseases, which mainly spread in tropical climates.
If you already have a parasitic infection, your doctor will treat you for it before you get reslizumab. But if you get one of these infections while you're on reslizumab, your doctor will prescribe a medicine like albendazole (Albenza) or mebendazole (Emverm) to treat it. You may need to stop reslizumab briefly until the infection clears up.
