If you have severe asthma, your doctor may suggest treatment with Tezspire. It’s a prescription medication used with other asthma treatments to treat severe asthma in adults and some children.
Note: You should not use Tezspire for sudden breathing trouble, which may be a symptom of an asthma attack. Instead, use your rescue inhaler for an asthma attack, as directed by your doctor. (To learn more, see “Using other drugs with Tezspire” in the “How is Tezspire administered?” section below.)
Tezspire basics
Tezspire comes as a liquid solution inside a prefilled syringe or vial. The drug is given as an injection under your skin. You’ll receive Tezspire doses at your doctor’s office or another healthcare facility.
Tezspire belongs to a group of drugs called monoclonal antibodies. Tezspire contains the active ingredient tezepelumab-ekko.* (An active ingredient is what makes a drug work.) It’s a biologic drug, which means it’s made from parts of living cells.
Tezspire is not available in a biosimilar form. (Biosimilars are like generic drugs. But unlike generics, which are made for non-biologic drugs, biosimilars are made for biologic drugs.) Instead, tezepelumab-ekko comes only as the brand-name drug Tezspire.
Keep reading to learn more about Tezspire, including the drug’s side effects, cost, dosage, and more.
* The reason “ekko” appears at the end of the drug’s name is to show that the drug is distinct from similar medications that may be created in the future.
Like most drugs, Tezspire may cause mild or serious side effects. The lists below describe some of the more common side effects that Tezspire may cause. These lists don’t include all possible side effects.
Keep in mind that side effects of a drug can depend on:
- your age
- other health conditions you have
- other medications you take
Your doctor or pharmacist can tell you more about the potential side effects of Tezspire. They can also suggest ways to help reduce side effects.
Mild side effects
Here’s a list of some of the mild side effects that Tezspire can cause. To learn about other mild side effects, talk with your doctor or pharmacist, or read Tezspire’s prescribing information.
Mild side effects of Tezspire that have been reported include:
- sore throat
- joint pain
- back pain
- injection site reactions, such as pain or swelling
- mild allergic reaction*
Mild side effects of many drugs may go away within a few days to a couple of weeks. But if they become bothersome, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
* To learn more about this side effect, see the “Allergic reaction” section below.
Serious side effects
Serious side effects from Tezspire can occur, but they aren’t common. If you have serious side effects from Tezspire, call your doctor right away. But if you think you’re having a medical emergency, you should call 911 or your local emergency number.
Allergic reaction was the only serious side effect reported in studies of Tezspire. To learn more about this side effect, see the “Allergic reaction” section below.
Allergic reactionSome people may have an allergic reaction to Tezspire. These reactions were rare in the drug’s clinical studies, though. It’s important to note that while most of these reactions occurred within hours of a person receiving a Tezspire dose, there were a few rare cases where allergic reaction did not develop until several days after a person received a Tezspire dose.
Symptoms of a mild allergic reaction can include:
A more severe allergic reaction is rare but possible. Symptoms of a severe allergic reaction can include swelling under your skin, usually in your eyelids, lips, hands, or feet. They can also include swelling of your tongue, mouth, or throat, which can cause trouble breathing.
Call your doctor right away if you have an allergic reaction to Tezspire. But if you think you’re having a medical emergency, call 911 or your local emergency number.
Costs of prescription drugs can vary depending on many factors. These factors include what your insurance plan covers and which pharmacy you use.
If you have questions about how to pay for your prescription, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. A program called Tezspire Together may also be available to you.
You can also check out this article to learn more about saving money on prescriptions.
Find answers to some commonly asked questions about Tezspire.
What should I know about alternatives to Tezspire, such as Dupixent?
Tezspire and Dupixent are both prescription drugs used to treat severe asthma.
Tezspire and Dupixent belong to the same group of drugs and are both biologic drugs. (Biologics are made using living cells.) But the drugs treat different kinds of asthma. Tezspire treats severe asthma in general, while Dupixent treats moderate or severe eosinophilic asthma, a specific kind of asthma involving high white blood cell levels.
Dupixent is used to treat a few other conditions as well.
To learn more about how Dupixent or other alternatives compare with Tezspire, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Does Tezspire cause long-term side effects?
No, Tezspire isn’t known to cause long-term side effects.
According to the drug’s studies, side effects caused by Tezspire should go away after a few hours or days. And any side effects that you experience during treatment shouldn’t continue once you’ve ended your treatment.
If you have other questions about how long Tezspire’s side effects may last, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Your doctor will recommend the dosage of Tezspire that’s right for you. Below are commonly used dosages, but your doctor will determine the dosage you’ll receive.
Form and strength
Tezspire comes as a liquid solution inside a single-dose, prefilled syringe or vial. Both forms are available in one strength: 210 milligrams (mg) per 1.91 milliliters (mL) solution (210 mg/1.91 mL).
The drug is given as an injection under your skin.
Recommended dosage
You’ll receive a Tezspire dose once every 4 weeks at your doctor’s office or another healthcare facility.
Questions about Tezspire’s dosing
Below are some common questions about Tezspire’s dosing.
- What if I miss a dose of Tezspire? If you miss an appointment to get your Tezspire dose, contact your doctor’s office or the healthcare facility right away. They’ll work with you to reschedule your appointment as soon as possible.
- Will I need to receive Tezspire long term? If you and your doctor agree that Tezspire is working well for you, your treatment will likely be long term.
- How long does Tezspire take to work? Although Tezspire begins working shortly after your first dose, it’s likely to take several weeks or even months before you notice your symptoms begin to ease. But some people receiving Tezspire in studies saw a reduction in their asthma symptoms as soon as 2 weeks after the first dose.
Tezspire is used to treat severe asthma in adults and in children ages 12 years and older. Tezspire is an add-on treatment that’s used with other asthma medications to treat your condition.
Asthma is a condition characterized by inflammation (swelling and damage) in your airways. Inflammation also increases mucus in your airways. Swelling and mucus in your airways make it hard to breathe. This can make physical activity difficult or even impossible.
Symptoms of asthma include:
- wheezing
- coughing
- chest tightness
- shortness of breath
- trouble talking
- fatigue (low energy)
- feelings of anxiousness
Tezspire treats severe asthma, which means asthma symptoms occur several times daily and most nights. Severe asthma also extremely limits the physical activities you can do.
Tezspire works by blocking certain proteins that are responsible for causing inflammation in your airways. This reduces swelling and mucus in your airways, which helps you breathe easier.
Asthma has different causes and types. Tezspire may be used to treat any kind of severe asthma. Unlike other drugs used to treat severe asthma, it isn’t limited to certain kinds of asthma.
Note: You should not use Tezspire for sudden breathing trouble, which may be a symptom of an asthma attack. Instead, use your rescue inhaler for an asthma attack, as directed by your doctor. (To learn more, see “Using other drugs with Tezspire” in the “How is Tezspire administered?” section directly below.)
Your doctor will explain how Tezspire will be given to you. They’ll also explain how much you’ll be given and how often.
Receiving Tezspire
Tezspire comes as a liquid solution inside a prefilled syringe or vial. The drug is given as an injection under your skin. You’ll receive Tezspire doses at your doctor’s office or another healthcare facility.
Using Tezspire with other drugs
Tezspire is used as an add-on treatment for severe asthma. This means the drug is used with other medications to treat your condition.
Your doctor can tell you more about the other drugs you’ll take while receiving Tezspire. For example, they’ll likely have you continue using the maintenance inhaler you take every day, such as budesonide/formoterol (Symbicort).
During your Tezspire treatment, it’s also important that you continue using your rescue inhaler, as directed by your doctor. You should not use Tezspire for sudden breathing trouble, which may be a symptom of an asthma attack. (In fact, you won’t keep or store Tezspire at home. So, it can’t be used as a rescue medication). Instead, you should use your rescue inhaler if you have sudden trouble breathing or symptoms of an asthma attack.
Examples of rescue inhalers include albuterol (ProAir HFA, others) and certain combination inhalers, such as budesonide/formoterol (Symbicort).
Some important things to discuss with your doctor when considering treatment with Tezspire include your overall health and any medical conditions you may have. In addition, tell your doctor if you’re taking any other medications.
These and other considerations to discuss with your doctor are described below.
Interactions
Taking a medication with certain vaccines, foods, and other things can affect how the medication works. These effects are called interactions.
Before taking Tezspire, be sure to tell your doctor about all medications you take, including prescription and over-the-counter kinds. Also describe any vitamins, herbs, or supplements you use. Your doctor or pharmacist can tell you about any interactions these items may cause with Tezspire.
For information about drug-condition interactions, see the “Warnings” section below.
There currently aren’t any medications or supplements known to interact with Tezspire. But this doesn’t mean drug interactions with Tezspire won’t be recognized in the future. For example, new medications may be approved that interact with Tezspire.
For this reason, you should still tell your doctor and pharmacist about any medications you take besides Tezspire. This way, they can check for any new interactions during your treatment.
Other interactions
You should not receive live vaccines during your treatment with Tezspire. (Live vaccines contain a weakened version of the virus or bacteria they’re meant to protect against.) And if you’ve recently received a live vaccine before starting Tezspire treatment, your doctor may wait a while before prescribing the drug for you.
Tezspire works by weakening your immune system. This means receiving a live vaccine while you’re receiving Tezspire could cause you to become sick with the germ contained in the vaccine. The vaccine may also be less effective.
Examples of live vaccines include:
It should be safe to get non-live vaccines during your Tezspire treatment. If you need to receive a vaccine, talk with your doctor first to make sure it’s safe.
Warnings
Tezspire can sometimes cause harmful effects in people who have certain conditions. This is known as a drug-condition interaction. Other factors may also affect whether Tezspire is a good treatment option for you.
Talk with your doctor about your health history before you take Tezspire. Factors to consider include those described below.
Helminth (parasite) infection. Before starting treatment with Tezspire, let your doctor know if you have or have recently had a helminth infection (a parasitic infection caused by worms). Receiving Tezspire could make it harder to treat this infection. Your doctor may want to wait to start your Tezspire treatment until your infection clears. They can recommend a treatment for your infection if you aren’t already taking one.
Allergic reaction. If you’ve had an allergic reaction to Tezspire or any of its ingredients, your doctor will likely not prescribe Tezspire. Ask them what other medications are better options for you.
Tezspire and alcohol
There is no known interaction between alcohol and Tezspire.
But it’s important to note that alcohol can
If you drink alcohol, talk with your doctor about how much (if any) may be safe to drink with your condition and treatment plan.
Pregnancy and breastfeeding
It’s not known whether it’s safe to receive Tezspire while pregnant or breastfeeding. There haven’t been studies evaluating the drug’s safety during pregnancy or while breastfeeding.
But having untreated asthma raises the risk of pregnancy complications, including premature birth and low birth weight.
If you have asthma and are pregnant or breastfeeding, talk with your doctor about your options.
Tezspire is a prescription medication that helps treat severe asthma in adults and some children. If you have questions about taking Tezspire, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. Questions you may want to ask include:
- How will we monitor whether Tezspire is working for me?
- If I have side effects from Tezspire, is there a lower dose I can try?
- Do any of my medications or medical conditions interact with Tezspire?
- What happens if my insurance coverage changes while I’m prescribed Tezspire?
To learn more about Tezspire, see this article:
To get information on different conditions and tips for improving your health, subscribe to any of Healthline’s newsletters. You may also want to check out the online communities at Bezzy. It’s a place where people with certain conditions can find support and connect with others.
Disclaimer: Healthline has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.