Crizanlizumab
About Crizanlizumab
Crizanlizumab is a prescription medication used to reduce how often painful vaso-occlusive crises (pain crises) occur in adults and children aged 16 years and older who have sickle cell disease. It is a specialised injection that helps prevent blood cells from sticking together and blocking blood vessels. By keeping blood flowing more smoothly, it lowers the risk of sudden, severe pain episodes.
This medicine is given as an injection into a vein (intravenous infusion) by a healthcare professional. After the first two initial doses, it is typically given once every four weeks. Because it is injected directly into a vein, food intake does not affect how it works. Making certain lifestyle adjustments, such as drinking plenty of fluids and avoiding sudden temperature changes, can also help manage your condition alongside this treatment.
Some people may experience common side effects like joint pain, nausea, back pain, or fever during treatment. While these side effects are usually mild, you should contact your doctor right away if you notice signs of an allergic or infusion reaction, such as breathing difficulties, dizziness, or hives.
Before starting this medicine, tell your healthcare provider if you have any other medical conditions, are planning to have surgery, or have a history of infusion reactions. Do not take this if you have had a severe allergic reaction to this medicine or any of its ingredients in the past.
While there are no specific known interactions with alcohol or smoking, maintaining a healthy lifestyle is highly recommended. If you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding, talk to your doctor or pharmacist before receiving this medicine to understand the potential risks and benefits.
Uses of Crizanlizumab
Medicinal Benefits
This medicine helps patients manage sickle cell disease by targeting the root cause of blood vessel blockages. The primary benefits include:
- Fewer pain crises: By keeping blood vessels open and reducing cell stickiness, it helps lower the frequency of sudden, severe pain episodes.
- Reduced emergency visits: Patients using this medicine may experience fewer visits to the hospital or emergency room for pain management.
- Better daily functioning: With fewer painful interruptions, patients can often manage their daily routines with more consistency and less disruption.
Directions for Use
- Follow your doctor’s instructions on the dosage and timing of this medication to ensure safety.
- Crizanlizumab will be administered by the doctor or healthcare professional.
- Do not self-administer.
Storage
Side Effects of Crizanlizumab
Common Side Effects (Usually mild):
- Joint pain
- Nausea
- Back pain
- Fever or chills
- Headache
Serious Side Effects (Consult your doctor right away):
- Severe infusion-related reactions (shivering, itching, hives, flushing, shortness of breath, or feeling dizzy during or shortly after the injection)
- Signs of a severe allergic reaction (swelling of the face, lips, mouth, or tongue, and difficulty swallowing or breathing)
Drug Warnings
- Watch for infusion reactions: Your healthcare team will monitor you during the infusion and as clinically appropriate afterward. Tell them immediately if you develop fever, chills, nausea, dizziness, itching, rash, shortness of breath, or other unusual symptoms during or after treatment.
- Inform laboratory staff: Tell your healthcare team and laboratory staff that you are receiving Crizanlizumab before blood tests. Crizanlizumab can cause platelets to clump in certain blood samples, which may result in a falsely low platelet count.
- Keep track of pain crises: Note how often pain crises occur, their severity, and any side effects you experience. Sharing this information with your haematologist can help them assess how well the treatment is working.
- Discuss pregnancy and breastfeeding: There is limited information about the use of crizanlizumab during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, planning a pregnancy, or breastfeeding so they can assess the potential benefits and risks.
- Use in younger patients: The safety and effectiveness of crizanlizumab in younger children have not been established in all settings. Treatment in children should be based on the treating specialist's assessment and applicable clinical guidance.
- Continue regular follow-up: The duration of treatment is determined individually based on how well the medicine is working, side effects, and your overall treatment plan. Do not stop treatment on your own. Attend regular appointments with your haematologist, who will assess whether treatment should be continued.
- Tell your healthcare team about planned procedures: If you are having surgery or another medical procedure, tell the healthcare professionals involved that you are receiving Crizanlizumab so they can consider it as part of your overall care.
Drug Interactions
- Other medicines: No clinically significant drug–drug interactions have been established for crizanlizumab, and formal interaction studies are limited. Tell your doctor about all prescription medicines, over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and supplements you use so your treatment can be reviewed appropriately.
- Other treatments for sickle cell disease: Crizanlizumab may be used alongside treatments such as hydroxyurea when prescribed. Your healthcare team will decide which combination of treatments is appropriate for you.
Drug-Drug Interactions Checker List:
Safety Advice
Alcohol
cautionYou are recommended to avoid alcohol consumption while taking Crizanlizumab. It could lead to unpleasant side effects.
Pregnancy
cautionCrizanlizumab may cause fetal harm. Therefore, please inform your doctor if you are pregnant; your doctor will weigh the benefits and potential risks before prescribing this medicine.
Breast Feeding
cautionIt is not known if this medicine passes into your breast milk. Inform your doctor if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. Your doctor decides the best way to feed your baby during treatment with Crizanlizumab.
Driving
cautionCrizanlizumab does not impact your ability to drive or use machinery.
Liver
cautionCaution should be exercised while using Crizanlizumab in patients with liver disease. So, inform your doctor before receiving the Crizanlizumab if you have a history of liver diseases/conditions. Your doctor will prescribe only if the benefits outweigh the risks.
Kidney
cautionCaution should be exercised while using Crizanlizumab in patients with kidney disease. So, inform your doctor before receiving the Crizanlizumab if you have a history of kidney diseases/conditions. Your doctor will prescribe only if the benefits outweigh the risks.
Children
unsafeCrizanlizumab is not recommended for children below 16 years as the safety and effectiveness have not been established.
Habit Forming
Diet & Lifestyle Advise
- Stay well-hydrated: Drink plenty of water throughout the day to help keep your blood flowing smoothly and reduce the risk of sickling.
- Avoid extreme temperatures: Sudden exposure to extreme cold or heat can trigger a pain crisis. Dress warmly in cold weather and stay cool in hot weather.
- Manage stress levels: High physical or emotional stress can trigger crises. Incorporate relaxation techniques like deep breathing or gentle stretching into your routine.
- Avoid smoking: Smoking restricts blood vessels and reduces oxygen levels in the blood, which can worsen sickle cell symptoms.
- Engage in moderate exercise: Stay active with light, low-impact physical activities like walking, but avoid overexertion and rest when needed.
Special Advise
- Platelet Counts should be evaluated on a regular basis throughout Crizanlizumab treatment and until full recovery is achieved.
Patients Concern
Disease/Condition Glossary
A vaso-occlusive crisis, or VOC, occurs when sickled red blood cells obstruct blood flow to the point where tissues are deprived of oxygen. This, in turn, causes an inflammatory reaction. The outcome is severe pain, which can affect any body part but is most typically felt in the back, chest, or extremities.
FAQs
This is not entirely accurate. Crizanlizumab is not used to treat an active VOC; it is used to reduce the frequency of VOCs (preventive treatment).
Crizanlizumab contains Crizanlizumab-tmca which works by binding to the protein P-selectin in the blood. This protein is responsible for the adhesion of blood cells. By inhibiting P-selectin, blood cell limitations are avoided, and blood supply throughout the body is improved.
Yes. Infusion-related reactions may occur in some people during or shortly after receiving Crizanlizumab. Signs and symptoms can include fever, chills, hives, itching, flushing, shortness of breath, or dizziness. If you experience any of these symptoms, tell your healthcare provider immediately. Your healthcare team may stop the infusion and provide appropriate treatment if needed. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist for more safety information.
Sickle cell disease is caused by an inherited change (mutation) in the gene that makes hemoglobin, the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen. This causes red blood cells to become sickle-shaped under certain conditions.
No, it is indicated to reduce the frequency of vaso-occlusive crises (VOCs) with sickle cell disease.
The only cure for sickle cell disease is a stem cell or bone marrow transplant, which is rarely performed due to the complications involved.
Crizanlizumab is given as an intravenous (IV) infusion, meaning it is injected slowly into a vein by a healthcare provider. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist for more details.
No, Crizanlizumab must be given by a healthcare professional in a clinic, hospital, or infusion centre where you can be monitored for any immediate side effects or reactions. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist to find a convenient infusion location.
If you miss an appointment, call your healthcare provider right away to reschedule. It is important to stay on your scheduled routine to keep the medicine working effectively. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you have concerns about your schedule.
Crizanlizumab does not actually lower your body's platelet count, but it can cause platelets to clump together in test tubes. This can lead to a falsely low reading on automated blood tests. Tell your lab technician that you are using this medicine before any blood tests. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you have questions about your blood tests.
There is limited information on the safety of Crizanlizumab during pregnancy. It is important to discuss the potential risks and benefits with your healthcare team if you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before starting treatment.
Signs of an infusion reaction can include fever, chills, hives, itching, flushing, shortness of breath, or feeling dizzy during or shortly after the infusion. If you notice any of these symptoms, tell your healthcare provider immediately. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist for more safety information.
