Have You Heard About This Treatment Option for SLE?

Thank you, AstraZeneca for sponsoring this post! #sponsored #AstraZenecaPartner

When I was first diagnosed with SLE (lupus), it was challenging to come to terms with how much my life was going to be affected. I was overwhelmed, especially knowing that there’s no cure for lupus. My biggest obstacle was figuring out how I was going to continue to do things in my life to the fullest.

In my experience, the beginning of my journey was difficult. I spent many days in pain, like my symptoms were overtaking me. This made it really hard to do what I used to consider simple tasks. Making it to school and extracurricular activities were challenging, but I always pushed myself to go. For me, lupus is an invisible illness. At times, I felt guilty for pushing myself as if I wasn’t in pain. I should have asked for support but was often too prideful. For the few times that I did find the energy to hang out with my family and friends, I still wasn’t able to be fully present.

Over the years, I decided it was time to take my journey into my own hands. I told my doctor I wanted to find out what else could be done for my lupus, and advocating for myself was the best decision I could have ever made. After 15 years of living with this disease, I’ve learned that the 2 best things you can do for your health are to listen to your body and to advocate for yourself.

I love using this community to inspire, educate, and connect with all of you, which is exactly why I partnered with the makers of SAPHNELO®(anifrolumab-fnia), injection for intravenous use, a prescription medicine approved for the treatment of adults with moderate to severe SLE (lupus) who are receiving other lupus medicines. It is not known if SAPHNELO is effective in people with severe active lupus nephritis or severe active central nervous system lupus. It is not known if SAPHNELO is safe and effective in patients under 18 years of age. While my doctor has not prescribed SAPHNELO for me, I still wanted to share with my community that another treatment option is available to discuss with your doctor to see if it could be right for you. It’s the first FDA-approved treatment for adults with moderate to severe lupus in over a decade!

Please see the full Important Safety Information for SAPHNELO provided below and full Prescribing Information, including Patient Information.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

• • Do not use SAPHNELO if you are allergic to anifrolumab-fnia or to any of the ingredients

• • Before you receive SAPHNELO, tell your healthcare provider about all of your medical conditions, including if you:
    • •  think you have an infection or have an infection that keeps coming back
    • • are scheduled to receive a vaccination or if you think you may need a vaccination. You should not receive live vaccines during treatment with SAPHNELO
    • • have or have had cancer
    • • are receiving other biologic medicines or monoclonal antibodies
    • • are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if SAPHNELO will harm your unborn baby. Tell your healthcare provider if you are, might be, or plan to become pregnant during treatment with SAPHNELO
        • • • A pregnancy exposure registry monitors pregnancy outcomes in women exposed to SAPHNELO. You can find out more information about the registry by calling AstraZeneca at 1-877-693-9268

    • • are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if SAPHNELO passes into your breast milk

Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. SAPHNELO may affect the way other medicines work, and other medicines may affect how SAPHNELO works.

SAPHNELO may cause serious side effects, including:

• • Serious infections: SAPHNELO can lower the ability of your immune system to fight infections. You may be at a higher risk of developing respiratory infections and shingles (herpes zoster) during treatment with SAPHNELO. Infections could be serious, leading to hospitalization or death

• • Allergic (hypersensitivity) reactions, including anaphylaxis: Serious allergic reactions can happen during or after you get your SAPHNELO infusion. Tell your healthcare provider or get emergency help right away if you have any of the following symptoms of a serious allergic reaction:
    • • swelling of your face, mouth and tongue
    • • breathing problems
    • • fainting, dizziness
    • • feeling lightheaded (low blood pressure)

• • Cancer: SAPHNELO may reduce the activity of your immune system. Medicines that affect the immune system may increase your risk of certain cancers

The most common side effects of SAPHNELO include:

• • Upper respiratory infections

• • Bronchitis

• • Infusion reactions

• • Shingles (herpes zoster)

• • Cough

Infusion reactions can happen at the time of the infusion or shortly after, symptoms may include headache, nausea, vomiting, feeling tired or weak (fatigue), and dizziness.

These are not all of the possible side effects of SAPHNELO. Call your healthcare provider for medical advice about side effects.

APPROVED USE

SAPHNELO is a prescription medicine used to treat adults with moderate to severe systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE or lupus) who are receiving other lupus medicines.

It is not known if SAPHNELO is effective in patients with severe active lupus nephritis or severe active central nervous system lupus. It is not known if SAPHNELO is safe and effective in patients under 18 years of age.

Please see full Prescribing Information, including Patient Information.

If you’re interested in learning more, I encourage you to visit saphnelo.com and talk to your doctor.

You may report side effects related to AstraZeneca products by clicking here: https://us-aereporting.astrazeneca.com. 

This content is sponsored by AstraZeneca.
Not an actual SAPHNELO patient.
Results may vary.

This information is intended for US Audiences Only.
SAPHNELO is a registered trademark of the AstraZeneca group of companies.

©2022 AstraZeneca. All rights reserved. US-67780 Last Updated 11/22