Lucentis Side Effects
Lucentis has the potential to cause adverse side effects:
- headache
- dry or itchy eyes
- teary eyes
- feeling that something is in your eye
- nausea
- back pain
Some side effects can be serious. If you experience any of these symptoms, call your doctor immediately:
- reddening of eye
- eye sensitivity to light
- eye pain
- decrease or changes in vision
- bleeding in or around the eye
- swelling of the eye or eyelid
- seeing ''floaters''
- seeing small specks
- seeing flashing lights
- chest pain
- shortness of breath
- sweating
- slow or difficult speech
- dizziness or faintness
- weakness or numbness of the patient’s arm or leg
As of January 2007, there has been a confirmed stroke risk associated with patients taking Lucentis.
Warnings & Recalls for Lucentis
People with the following preconditions are usually discouraged from using Lucentis:
- Ocular or periocular infections
- Hypersensitivity to ingredients in Lucentis
In January of 2007, the FDA had written a warning letter about the Genentech version of Ranibizumab, which had resulted in many patients at a risk for stroke.
Lucentis Treatment and Use
Lucentis | Ranibizumab is a drug that’s a monoclonal antibody that’s derived from the same antibody as Avastin, which is extracted from an antibody of a mouse. Its drug classification is that of an anti-angiogenic and has been approved by the FDA to treat “wet” age-related macular degeneration, which is commonly known as age-related vision loss. Lucentis can often sell at very high rates, with dosages selling for $1,593 per dose. In the US, Lucentis is marketed by the drug company Novartis. Lucentis is injected into the vitreous humour of the eye at least once a month.
Mechanism of Action
Lucentis binds to and inhibits a variety of types of vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A), which trigger the growth of new vessels that can leak blood and fluid into the patient’s eye. Those vessels contribute to choroidal neovascularization and macular edema, which result in the onset of macular degeneration of the eye. By blocking VEGF-A in the patient’s eye, Lucentis can prevent and reverse vision loss which has been caused by prior macular degeneration.
Other Names for Lucentis
Ranibizumab Injectable
Lawsuits & Legal Information for Lucentis
Author:
Lainee Hooks
Posted on May 26, 2012
