Information on Lucentis: Its Form, Strengths, Administration Method, and Additional Details
In the realm of eye health, Lucentis stands as a brand-name drug prescribed for certain eye conditions in adults. This biologic drug, belonging to the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) inhibitors class, is administered by a healthcare professional and not recommended for self-administration.
The Lucentis injection takes place in a doctor's office or clinic. Before the procedure, your eyes will be thoroughly examined, vision checked, the pressure inside your eye measured, and proper blood flow to the optic nerve assessed. The injection itself only takes a few seconds, as Lucentis is delivered directly into the vitreous humor, the jelly-like fluid in the back of the eye.
Lucentis comes in two strengths: 0.3 milligrams in 0.05 milliliters of solution, and 0.5 mg in 0.05 mL of solution. The solution is available in prefilled syringes, each containing a single dose.
Common side effects of Lucentis mainly involve the eye and include conjunctival hemorrhage (bleeding in the white part of the eye), eye pain, vitreous floaters (spots or shapes in the vision), increased intraocular pressure, eye inflammation, blurred vision, dry eye, eye itching, eye irritation, increased lacrimation (tearing), eyelid inflammation, ocular hyperemia (redness of the eye), cataract, and vitreous detachment. Non-ocular side effects reported include nasopharyngitis (inflammation of the nasal passages and throat), anemia (low red blood cell count), nausea, joint pain, peripheral neuropathy (tingling or numbness in feet and hands), gastro-esophageal reflux disease, hypercholesterolemia (high cholesterol), bronchitis, and renal failure (rare).
Most side effects are mild and temporary, often not requiring medical attention as the body adjusts. However, if symptoms persist or worsen, medical advice should be sought.
Lucentis is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat wet age-related macular degeneration, macular edema following retinal vein occlusion, diabetic macular edema, diabetic retinopathy, and myopic choroidal neovascularization.
For wet age-related macular degeneration, the typical dosage is one injection of 0.5 mg/0.05 mL Lucentis once per month (every 28 days). For macular edema following retinal vein occlusion and diabetic macular edema, the typical dosage is one injection of 0.5 mg/0.05 mL once per month (every 28 days). For diabetic retinopathy, the typical dosage is one injection of 0.3 mg/0.05 mL once per month (every 28 days). For myopic choroidal neovascularization, the typical dose is one injection of 0.5 mg/0.05 mL Lucentis. This dose is given once per month (every 28 days) for up to 3 months.
To prepare your eye, your doctor will clean the area around your eye, apply eye drops to numb your eye, and use a sterile tool called a speculum to gently hold your eye open.
It is important to put a reminder on your calendar for your Lucentis injection appointments and to call your doctor as soon as possible if you miss an appointment. Lucentis is also available in biosimilar versions, including Byooviz (ranibizumab-nuna) and Cimerli (ranibizumab-eqrn).
For more information about Lucentis injections, talk with your doctor or visit the drugmaker's website. As always, it's crucial to discuss any concerns or questions with your healthcare provider.
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