For patients ≥5 years with active SLE (lupus) and adults with active lupus nephritis on other lupus medicines. Unknown if safe/effective with severe active central nervous system lupus. Serious side effects may include death, life-threatening brain infection (PML), and certain cancers. Tell your doctor ... [Continue reading]
BENLYSTA is a prescription medicine, given intravenously (IV) or subcutaneously, for adults with active systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE or lupus) or active lupus nephritis on other lupus medicines. BENLYSTA IV is approved in children aged 5 years and older with SLE on other lupus medicines. It is not known if BENLYSTA is safe and effective in people with severe active central nervous system lupus.
BENLYSTA is a prescription medicine, given intravenously (IV) or subcutaneously, for adults with active systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE or lupus) or active lupus nephritis on other lupus medicines. BENLYSTA IV is approved in children aged 5 years and older with SLE on other lupus medicines. It is not known if BENLYSTA is safe and effective in people with severe active central nervous system lupus.
Do not receive BENLYSTA if you are allergic to belimumab or to any of the ingredients in BENLYSTA.
The most important information to know about BENLYSTA
Immunosuppressive agents, including BENLYSTA, can cause serious side effects. Some of these side effects may cause death.
- Infections: fever, chills, pain, or burning with urination, urinating often, coughing up mucus, or warm, red, or painful skin or sores on your body. Infections could be serious, leading to hospitalization or death.
Do not receive BENLYSTA if you are allergic to belimumab or to any of the ingredients in BENLYSTA.
The most important information to know about BENLYSTA
Immunosuppressive agents, including BENLYSTA, can cause serious side effects. Some of these side effects may cause death.
- Infections: fever, chills, pain or burning with urination, urinating often, coughing up mucus, or warm, red, or painful skin or sores on your body. Infections could be serious, leading to hospitalization or death.
- Allergic (hypersensitivity) reactions: itching, swelling of the face, lips, mouth, tongue, or throat, trouble breathing, anxiousness, low blood pressure, dizziness or fainting, headache, nausea, or skin rash. Serious allergic reactions can happen on the day of, or in the days after, receiving BENLYSTA and may cause death.
- Mental health problems and suicide: thoughts of suicide or dying, attempt to commit suicide, trouble sleeping (insomnia), new or worse anxiety or depression, acting on dangerous impulses, other unusual changes in your behavior or mood, or thoughts of hurting yourself or others.
Before receiving BENLYSTA also discuss with your healthcare provider if you:
- think you have an infection or have infections that keep coming back. You should not receive BENLYSTA if you have an infection unless your healthcare provider tells you to.
- have or have had mental health problems such as depression or thoughts of suicide.
- have recently received a vaccination or if you think you may need a vaccination. If you are receiving BENLYSTA, you should not receive live vaccines.
- are taking other medicines, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.
- are allergic to other medicines.
- are receiving other biologic medicines or monoclonal antibodies.
- have or have had any type of cancer.
- have any other medical conditions.
- are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if BENLYSTA will harm your unborn baby. You should talk to your healthcare provider about whether to prevent pregnancy while on BENLYSTA. If you choose to prevent pregnancy, you should use an effective method of birth control while receiving BENLYSTA and for at least 4 months after the final dose of BENLYSTA.
Tell your healthcare provider right away if you become pregnant during your treatment with BENLYSTA or if you think you may be pregnant. - become pregnant while receiving BENLYSTA. Talk to your healthcare provider about enrolling in the BENLYSTA Pregnancy Registry. You can enroll in this registry by calling 1-877-681-6296. The purpose of this registry is to monitor the health of you and your baby.
- are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if BENLYSTA passes into your breast milk. You and your healthcare provider should talk about whether or not you should receive BENLYSTA and breastfeed.
Possible side effects of BENLYSTA
- Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML). PML is a serious and life-threatening brain infection. PML can result in death or severe disability. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you notice any new or worsening medical problems: memory loss, trouble thinking, dizziness or loss of balance, difficulty talking or walking, or loss of vision.
- Cancer. Medicines that affect the immune system, including BENLYSTA, may increase your risk of certain cancers.
The most common side effects of BENLYSTA are nausea, diarrhea, fever, stuffy or runny nose and sore throat, persistent cough, trouble sleeping, leg or arm pain, depression, headache, and pain, redness, itching, or swelling at the site of injection (when given subcutaneously). These are not all the possible side effects of BENLYSTA. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects.
Please see Prescribing Information and Medication Guide for BENLYSTA.
