Tysabri's potential adverse effects and strategies to handle them
Tysabri, a biologic drug belonging to the integrin receptor antagonists class, is commonly used to treat multiple sclerosis, clinically isolated syndrome, and Crohn's disease. While it offers significant benefits, it's essential to be aware of its potential side effects and risks.
During Tysabri infusions, your doctor will monitor you closely for reactions to the drug. If you experience symptoms of an allergic or infusion reaction, such as skin rash, itching, swelling, or difficulty breathing, your infusion may be paused so that your doctor can treat your symptoms. For mild symptoms, contact your doctor right away. However, if your symptoms are serious and you think you're having a medical emergency, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number.
Common side effects in people receiving Tysabri treatment include headache, upper respiratory tract infections, nausea, and fatigue. For Crohn's disease patients, these side effects may also include mild urinary tract infections and lung infections such as pneumonia.
One of the most serious side effects of Tysabri is progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML), a life-threatening infection that often leads to disability and can even cause death. PML is caused by the John Cunningham (JC) virus, a common virus that doesn't cause symptoms in most people who have it. However, it can cause brain infection in people with reduced immune system activity, including those receiving Tysabri treatment. Your doctor will review your risk factors for PML before you start Tysabri treatment and may order a blood test to see if you already have the JC virus.
Long-term treatment with Tysabri can raise your risk of certain side effects, such as serious infection and PML. It's crucial to monitor for symptoms for at least 6 months after your last dose of Tysabri.
Another serious side effect is liver damage, which can be severe and cause long-term problems, including liver failure. Symptoms of liver damage caused by Tysabri can include appetite loss, dark-colored urine, fatigue, pain in your upper right abdomen area, and jaundice. If you develop these symptoms while having Tysabri treatment, contact your doctor right away. They will likely order blood tests that check for signs of liver damage.
Tysabri is not available in a pill form; it is only available as an intravenous infusion. It's important to note that while hair loss is not a known side effect of Tysabri treatment, liver damage, a rare side effect, has been reported in clinical trials. In extreme cases, some people needed a liver transplant due to this side effect.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) tracks side effects of medications after they are approved, and if you develop a side effect while receiving Tysabri and want to tell the FDA about it, you can visit MedWatch.
In summary, while Tysabri offers significant benefits for the treatment of multiple sclerosis, clinically isolated syndrome, and Crohn's disease, it's essential to be aware of its potential side effects and risks, particularly PML and liver damage. Always consult with your doctor about any concerns or symptoms you may experience during treatment.
- While deciders of health-and-wellness may weigh Tysabri, a drug used for multiple sclerosis, clinically isolated syndrome, and Crohn's disease, they should consider its potential side effects, such as PML and liver damage.
- Science suggests that the John Cunningham (JC) virus, a common virus in multiple deciders, can cause PML, a life-threatening infection, in those with reduced immune system activity, including Tysabri users.
- Under the sphere of fitness-and-exercise and mental-health, it's crucial for Tysabri deciders to monitor their health closely for at least 6 months following their last dose, given the long-term risks like serious infection and PML.
- Tysabri, while not typically associated with skin-care issues, has reported rare instances of liver damage and, in extreme cases, necessitated liver transplants.
- Awareness and cognitive understanding of the side effects of Tysabri are crucial for skin-care, mental-health, and overall well-being, as it's only available as an intravenous infusion.
- Medical-conditions related to Tysabri include not only multiple sclerosis and Crohn's disease, but also neurological disorders like PML and potential liver damage—side effects that can be reported to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) via the MedWatch program.
