If you have asthma, your doctor might suggest Tezspire as a treatment option for you. It’s a prescription drug used to treat severe asthma in adults and some children.

Tezspire is prescribed when your asthma symptoms aren’t managed with your other treatments. It’s used long term along with your other asthma medications to help prevent asthma attacks. Tezspire doesn’t treat sudden breathing problems or provide relief during an asthma attack.

Tezspire comes as a liquid solution in a prefilled syringe or glass vial. The solution is injected under your skin by a healthcare professional.

The active ingredient in Tezspire is tezepelumab-ekko.* (An active ingredient is what makes a drug work.) Tezspire is a type of biologic drug, which means it’s made from living cells.

For more information about Tezspire, see this in-depth article.

Like other drugs, Tezspire can cause mild to serious side effects. Keep reading to learn 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.

Tezspire is used in adults and children ages 12 years and older. Some people may experience mild to serious side effects during treatment with this drug. Some side effects are more common than others, but side effects won’t happen to everyone.

Examples of Tezspire’s commonly reported side effects include:

This is not a complete list of side effects. Keep reading to learn more about mild to serious side effects this drug may cause.

* To learn more about this side effect, see the “Side effects explained” section below.

Tezspire can cause mild side effects in some people. In most cases these are temporary and some may be easily managed.

Examples of mild side effects that have been reported with this drug include:

* To learn more about this side effect, see the “Side effects explained” section below.

If you have side effect symptoms that are ongoing or bother you, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. But do not stop Tezspire treatment unless your doctor recommends it.

Tezspire may cause mild side effects other than those listed above. See the drug’s prescribing information for details.

Note: After the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves a drug, it tracks and reviews side effects of the medication. If you’d like to notify the FDA about a side effect you’ve had with Tezspire, visit MedWatch.

Serious side effects can occur with Tezspire, such as allergic reaction,* but they are rare. This drug is injected by a healthcare professional who will monitor you afterward for any signs of allergic reaction.

If you develop serious side effects from Tezspire outside of the doctor’s office, call your doctor right away. If the side effects seem life threatening or you think you’re having a medical emergency, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number.

Talk with your doctor or pharmacist to learn more about possible serious side effects of Tezpire.

* To learn more about this side effect, see the “Side effects explained” section below.

Learn more about some of the side effects Tezspire may cause.

Injection site side effects

Tezspire is a drug that’s given as an injection under your skin in areas such as your upper arm, belly, or thigh. Reactions at the injection site can occur in some people, but they aren’t common and are usually mild.

Symptoms of injections site reactions with Tezspire include:

  • skin redness or discoloration
  • pain
  • swelling

To see how often injection site side effects occurred in studies, check out the drug’s prescribing information.

What might help

You’ll receive a Tezspire injection once every 4 weeks. To prevent site reactions, the healthcare professional giving the injection may rotate your injection sites. They’ll avoid any area of your skin that’s tender, bruised, or discolored.

Injection site reactions are usually temporary. But if your symptoms don’t go away or are bothersome, ask your doctor for recommendations to help ease them.

Sore throat

Sore throat was a commonly reported Tezspire side effect in the drug’s studies. Some sore throat symptoms were associated with bacterial and viral infections.

Swelling and soreness in the throat cause your throat to feel raw, dry, or scratchy. Your throat may be irritated or tender and have a burning sensation. You may have pain when you swallow or talk.

What might help

In most cases, your sore throat will be temporary. If it’s linked to a bacterial infection, your doctor may treat you with antibiotics.

To help ease your symptoms:

  • suck on a lozenge or a piece of hard candy
  • drink warm liquids such as tea or broth
  • gargle with a saltwater mixture (1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon salt dissolved in 8 ounces of warm water)
  • add moisture to the air with a cool mist humidifier

Your doctor or pharmacist may recommend over-the-counter (OTC) drugs such as acetaminophen (Tylenol), ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), or an antiseptic throat spray.

Joint pain

Joint pain was a commonly reported side effect in Tezspire studies. Discomfort, soreness, aches, and pain may occur in joints such as the shoulders, knees, elbows, wrists, and hips.

What might help

Talk with your doctor if you are concerned about joint pain from Tezspire. They may recommend that you apply heat or ice to the area to help ease your pain, or to wrap the joint with a brace.

There are some OTC medications that treat joint pain. Your doctor or pharmacist may recommend a specific medication, such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin).

Allergic reaction

Like most drugs, Tezspire can cause an allergic reaction in some people. Symptoms can be mild to serious and can include:

  • skin rash
  • itchiness
  • flushing (temporary warmth, redness, or deepening of skin color)
  • swelling under your skin, usually in your eyelids, lips, hands, or feet
  • swelling of your mouth, tongue, or throat, which can make it hard to breathe

What might help

If you have mild symptoms of an allergic reaction, such as a mild rash, call your doctor right away. They may suggest a treatment to manage your symptoms. Examples include:

  • an antihistamine you take by mouth, such as Benadryl (diphenhydramine)
  • a product you apply to your skin, such as hydrocortisone cream

If your doctor confirms you’ve had a mild allergic reaction to Tezspire, they’ll decide whether you should continue using it.

If you have symptoms of a severe allergic reaction, such as swelling or trouble breathing, call 911 or your local emergency number right away. These symptoms could be life threatening and require immediate medical care.

If your doctor confirms you’ve had a serious allergic reaction to Tezspire, they may have you switch to a different treatment.

Keeping track of side effects

During your Tezspire treatment, consider taking notes on any side effects you’re having. You can then share this information with your doctor. This is especially helpful when you first start taking new drugs or using a combination of treatments.

Your side effect notes can include things such as:

  • what dose of the drug you were taking when you had the side effect
  • how soon you had the side effect after starting that dose
  • what your symptoms were
  • how it affected your daily activities
  • what other medications you were taking
  • any other information you feel is important

Keeping notes and sharing them with your doctor will help them learn more about how Tezspire affects you. They can then use this information to adjust your treatment plan if needed.

Tezspire may not be right for you if you have certain medical 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 and possible side effects and risks of Tezspire before starting treatment. Factors to consider include those described below.

Infection caused by worms. Tezspire may affect medications used to treat infections caused by worms. If you have a worm-related infection, your doctor will likely treat it before you start Tezspire. If you become infected during your treatment, your doctor may temporarily have you stop Tezspire until the infection is treated.

Allergic reaction. If you’ve had an allergic reaction to Tezspire or any of its ingredients, your doctor will likely not prescribe it for you. Ask them about other medications that might be better options. (For more information, see “Allergic reaction” under “Side effects explained” above.)

Alcohol and Tezspire

It’s not known whether alcohol interacts with Tezspire, but alcohol can make your asthma symptoms worse. If you drink alcohol, talk with your doctor about what amount, if any, is safe for you to consume with Tezspire.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding with Tezspire

The safety of Tezspire during pregnancy and breastfeeding is not known. But Tezspire belongs to a group of drugs called monoclonal antibodies, which can pass from the mother to the fetus and also through breast milk. How the drug affects a fetus or a breastfeeding child is unknown.

Talk with your doctor about how to treat your asthma if you’re breastfeeding, pregnant, or planning either. They can give you more information on treatment options, birth control, and the best way to feed your child.

Some Tezspire side effects are common, but they’re usually mild.

Talking with your doctor about Tezspire’s possible side effects can help you feel more confident with your treatment. Below are a few questions that may help you get the conversation started.

  • Are any side effects more common in children than adults?
  • How do the side effects of Tezspire compare to other drugs used to treat severe asthma?
  • Will I experience side effects of Tezspire after stopping treatment?

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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.