Tepezza before and after, what should I expect?

Official answer

by Drugs.com

Overview

Before you receive treatment for Thyroid Eye Disease (TED), your eye symptoms may include red and bulging eyes, double vision, misaligned eyes, blurred vision and dry eyes, among other symptoms.

After treatment, Tepezza has been shown in 24-week long clinical studies to reduce the eye bulging, double vision, eye pain, redness and swelling that may occur with TED. Some patients may have improvement in symptoms as early as 6 weeks.

In addition, an improvement in vision (such as reading or watching TV) and in the patient’s appearance was also seen. Proptosis, or the bulging eyes that occur in TED, is one of the most disfiguring complications of TED.

Tepezza is not a cure for TED, but your improvements may last after your treatment stops. Some patients have seen results last up to one year. Flare ups of your symptoms can still occur after treatment.

Tepezza (teprotumumab-trbw) is used to treat Thyroid Eye Disease (TED), also called Grave’s ophthalmology. TED often occurs in people who also have Graves’ disease and hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid gland).

TED and Graves’ disease are both autoimmune disorders, where your immune system mistakenly attacks your own healthy tissues. In TED, the muscle and fat behind the eye is attacked and in Grave’s disease, the thyroid gland is attacked.

Before your treatment, tell your doctor if you:

have inflammatory bowel disease (for example, Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis)

are currently being treated for diabetes (high blood sugar), have been diagnosed with diabetes, or know your blood sugar is high

are pregnant or planning to become pregnant

Common side effects

You may experience side effects during treatment with Tepezza such as:

muscle spasms

nausea

hair loss (alopecia)

diarrhea

fatigue

increased blood sugar levels

hearing impairment

altered taste

headache

dry skin

menstrual disorders.

Infusion reactions, high blood sugar levels and worsening of inflammatory bowel disease can also occur and may be serious. Infusion reactions can occur during the infusion or within 24 hours after the infusion.

Your doctor may want to perform a pregnancy test before you start Tepezza. If you can become pregnant, you should use an effective form of birth control (contraception) before you start Tepezza, while you’re being treated, and for at least 6 months after the final dose of Tepezza.

How will I get Tepezza?

Tepezza is given by your healthcare provider as an intravenous (IV) infusion from a needle inserted into a vein in your arm. Your dose is based on your weight. Treatment is given once every three weeks for a total of eight infusions. During your infusion and to help pass the time, you can read, rest, watch TV or listen to a podcast.

Each appointment lasts about 1.5 to 2.5 hours and your total treatment period will last about 5 months. Your first few appointments may be a bit longer. Treatment can be given at your doctor’s office, a special infusion clinic, a hospital or even in your own home.

TED is usually treated by eye care specialists called ophthalmologists.

Will my insurance cover Tepezza?

Tepezza is a specialty medicine and may require additional approval by your insurance company that may take extra time. Be aware of this as you start your examination and treatment visits with your healthcare provider. Your doctor will work with you to fill out the necessary paperwork if Tepezza is prescribed for you and answer any questions you might have about insurance coverage.

In addition, if you have questions once Tepezza is prescribed, you can call Horizon Therapeutics at 1-833-583-7399, Monday through Friday, 8AM to 8PM ET.

Are there Tepezza before and after pictures?

The manufacturer of Tepezza, Horizon Therapeutics, provides Tepezza before and after photos of patients who have been treated with Tepezza. You can view these photos on their website. Your individual results may differ.

This is not all the information you need to know about Tepezza (teprotumumab-trbw) for safe and effective use and does not take the place of your doctor’s directions. Review the full product information and discuss this information and any questions you have with your doctor or other health care provider.

Disclaimer

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