Nucala for Asthma User Reviews

• Nikki
• May 24, 2019

"After being on prednisone for years and no improvement. Nothing to lose but to try Nucala. Well it have helped tremendously. My breathing issue, stuffy nose, tons of mucus have stopped. However, After the first needle, I notice I have flu like symptoms, I thought I was having the flu. After second needle same thing, the doctor said to continue Nucala. Well while it improve my asthma, I am having severe back pain, pain all over my body. I am actually suffering in pain. Can someone please let me know if anyone else is having the same side effect, so I can prove to my doctor it is not in my head. While I like that my asthma have improve. I am suffering and cannot walk from pain everywhere in my body. Please let me know there is someone else experiencing this. Thanks"

• Happy...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 9, 2017

"My doctor told me that it might take time to work, yet, my asthma symptoms disappeared the first day! I have suffered with asthma for thirteen years. After a few years with an inhaled cortical steroid, I developed Cushings' syndrome, so I could no longer take them. My doctors have tried to control my asthma with a combination of medications not containing steroids, including some COPD meds. Over the years, my symptoms became more severe and more frequent. For the past several years, I was bedridden about half the time. I had asthma attacks even with no common triggers. I used a nebulizer and albuterol six times a day. Since starting Nucala two months ago, I am symptom free and up from bed, living my glorious life!"

• Nic
• August 6, 2019

"I have been on Nucala for 2 years. I am 41 years old. I’ve had several sinus infections, coughing like crazy, reflux. When the Dr discovered I had Eosinophic allergic asthma, he put me on Nucala. About 10 minutes after my injection I had severe back pain & fatigue. As time goes by, I’m noticing more side effects. I’ve lost 30% of my hair. Severe dry skin on face. Arthritic pain. Headaches. Nucala has helped me tremendously, but I’m so upset about all my thinning/lost hair. I’ve had every blood test done. Thyroid checked. All good. Has to be a side effect. Everyone PLEASE REPORT ALLLLL YOUR SIDE EFFECTS!!! They need to know so many people are suffering from hair loss, joint pain, fatigue, headaches, muscle spasms, ..etc I have to meet with my Dr again to go over all this."

• Always...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• January 24, 2020

"After two years on nucala, I have had enough. For the past three months, I have had excruciating joint pain in my knees, ankles, wrists, elbows and fingers to the point that I can not run at all or even walk without pain. While on nucala, my joints have always been hurting, but now it's just so much worse. I've also suffered from headaches, sore throat, muscle spasms, chest and back pain and some eczema. I lost half of my hair in the last two months and some of my eyebrows as well. Weird thing is, all was well for over a year and a half, except for some minor joint ache but then suddenly everything went bad really fast. Now I have to wait for a few months for nucala to leave my system, and hopefully things will return to normal. It did help with my asthma and nasal polyps, but now the side effects are just too much."

• Bob
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• May 12, 2019

"Started Nucala 8 months ago for my asthma and it started working within a week. I was surprised what a difference it made. It was like my asthma was almost gone. But the past month or so, I’ve started to wheeze again; now my cough is back and doing physical things is becoming more difficult. Is anyone else finding the effects fading, the longer your on it?"

• Sid
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 2, 2019

"I have had 2 shots of Nucala over the past 5 weeks. It improved my asthma immediately. I estimate within a couple of hours the mucus, congestion and infection in my respiratory system had gone completely. However ... the side effects for me have possibly been even worse. Since the first injection I have had constant arthritic pain in my feet, back and jaw. I've also had the worst gout attack in my life. This pain has been nothing like I've previously experienced and it's affected my lifestyle significantly. I also have the minor flu-like symptoms. Although this is relatively mild, it's constant. I won't go away. I honestly don't know if I will be able to continue on Nucala. I'll need to make a call on that over the next 3 weeks. Has anyone else experienced anything like this?"

• wrend
• June 21, 2021

"I feel like I have been poisoned! It only works for about three weeks but I still have asthma symptoms. My hair is falling out like I am on chemo and I have terrible muscle spasms that paralyze my legs. I am stopping this awful medicine. The benefits DO NOT override the risks. I'm done!!!"

• Lexi_00
• March 27, 2017

"I've always had bad asthma as a kid. I was constantly had to be put on steroids. My Dr did an IgE test and mine were over 1,500 (less than 100 is normal) I was put on Nucala for 5 months. At the time of the first injection my lung function was at 86% at the time of the fifth injection I was at around 35%. While on this drug I felt so sick! Back pain, head ache, nausea, fatigue. I felt like I had the flu everyday! We decided to stop the drug. (I am still looking for a new treatment option)"

• Lseid...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 15, 2017

"I've had asthma since I was 18. Over the last 36 years, it has gotten progressively worse. My lungs were always congested and breathing was always labored. Prednisone used to work for a few months and clear up those symptoms but not anymore. Already in my 50s and my breathing getting steadily worse, I did some research to find the best respiratory hospital in the USA. In July 2015 which I went to and I was diagnosed with eociniphilic asthma but Nucala wasn't yet approved. I started Nucala in April 2017. By the fourth shot, I'm a new person. I can breathe without lung congestion and haven't used my rescue inhaler at all in five weeks. It's a miracle drug! Thank you GlaxoSmthKline!!"

• Bcbssm
• May 21, 2017

"I suffered from severe asthma for the past 4 years. I was hospitalized several times, despite using 4 different asthma medications. Nothing seemed to control my symptoms for very long, except high doses of prednisone. After a blood test, and some pre-approval from my insurance company, my doctor finally got me approved for Nucala. Nucala has been a life changer. I can finally breathe much easier, I'm able to exercise, enjoy the outdoors & I rarely have asthma attacks now."

• Leigh
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 6, 2019

"I have just taken my 5th injection of Nucala on July 2nd and although my severe asthma, allergy, GERD, and Sternum and back pain is finally gone, I have had a sore throat for a month and a half and now I am experiencing extreme hair loss. I have lost nearly half my long beautiful hair in just the last three weeks. I have added no other meds and it seems each month as Nucala has built in my system, side effects have increased for me. As much as it has alleviated my eosinophilic asthma, I can’t live with out hair or with this chronic sore throat. I am going to an ENT soon to rule out any other cause as my general doctor nor allergist can find no cause for the throat discomfort. I am also going for blood work on Monday to check for other issues than can cause sudden hair loss, but I am betting I will have to go off this medication."

• suyq
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 8, 2019

"I had my first Nucala shot in June 2019 and it seems to help my asthma. I completely stopped taking prednisone. Which was amazing because I have become totally depend on it to breath. My second nucala shot I started to notice several side effects, severe back pain, stomach pain, urinary track infection and the final straw was severe muscle pain and spams. The pain I experience from the muscle spams is so bad I cry. I had to discontinue this drug. I was very hopeful this would be the answer to my asthma. So now I am back prednisone."

• bamboo
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 14, 2018

"I am an anesthesiologist who was forced onto disability due to my asthma 8 years ago .I have had asthma for nearly two decades. My symptoms were getting worse and all of the doctors I went to just doubled the dosage of my meds that weren't working. Yesterday I had my first injection of Nucala and I woke up today a new man. NO WHEEZING, NO COUGH, NO RUNNING NOSE, NO CHOKING WHEN I EAT, NO SHORTNESS OF BREATHE, I am a lucky guy......"

• George
• August 13, 2019

"Nucala deserves 7 stars. Nucala co-pay program should be discontinued. I have had Asthma all my life. I am 46 years old. I have also been on steroids since I was 10. I had almost immediate results after my first injection. I haven’t used my rescue inhaler once, which is unheard of. However, my blood pressure has sky rocketed. The only thing I can relate that is new, is the Nucala. Also, I was approved for their co-payment program. Don’t be fooled. They claimed to cover anything Nucala related, up to $11,000 a year. Wrong. They’ve changed their process. After being approved for the program and starting it, now they want me to pay up front and they will reimburse me after its approved. It’s been hell to get reimbursed (I haven't seen a $1) and fee’s are racking up quickly. Even the doctors office doesn’t understand their billing. To save my credit rating, I will have to pay for the fee’s and discontinue Nucala. Their co-pay program is terrible!!! Don’t be fooled!"

• Lisa
• June 10, 2020

"My doctor seems to be playing a guessing game with my asthma, but I guess that might be what everyone's pulmonary doctor does these days. I had pneumonia and a horrible cough, and woke up in middle of the night unable to breathe even after six puffs on my inhaler. Ever since that illness, five months later, I need a nebulizer treatment at least three times a day. I started this drug on May 8th, and at the end of the first month developed a severe bladder infection. I am now a week into my second month, still having bladder infection issues, and absolutely NO change in my severe asthma symptoms. The website indicates it can cause UTIs, so I fear that I have three more weeks of misery with a bladder infection AND severe asthma. I am glad this works for some people, but it has done nothing but make me more miserable than I already was before I started the drug."

• Sid
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 1, 2019

"I have had 2 injections of Nucala, within the past 5 weeks (4 weeks apart) as part of a 6 month trial here in Sydney, Australia. I reckon within maybe 2-3 hours of the first injection, most of my asthma/respiratory infection symptoms had gone. Prior to that I had suffered years of chronic sinus and chest infections. But ... since I've had the Nucala, I've had the worst 'arthritis'-like symptoms in my feet (especially) and lower back. TBH there are days I can hardly walk. I can't exercise at all due to the pain and inconvenience. I also have the flu-like symptoms others have mentioned on this blog. I am now thinking of removing myself from the trial as the side effects are worse than the original problem. Keen to hear if anyone else has had a similar problem."

• Page
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• February 17, 2019

"I’ve been taking this for about three years now. I know it is an effective health option for me. As I find myself having a difficult time breathing then I look at the calendar. Yep. I’m a few days away from the next injection. I’m one of those people out there that enjoy oxygen when I breathe in, I know radical. I don’t have reactions to the medication, not after the first time and not today either. I thank God for giving someone out there the ability to figure this medicine out for me."

• RannC
• September 17, 2020

"I am a very lucky lady. Nucala has been fantastic for me from the get go. Been taking a monthly shot for over 2 years now and I rarely use my rescue inhaler and have not had to take prednisone. Yahoo! Before Nucala, I had severe bronchitis episodes one after another. Was on heavy doses of prednisone which had begun not to help at all. Thank goodness for Nucala. I can go on walks again and be more active."

• Randy...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• November 6, 2019

"I got my first shot of a year ago. It was life changing! I can now breath for the first time in my life. I was in and out of the hospital before for exacerbations. My lungs are permanently scared and airways remodeled because of my asthma. Nucala changed my life. I had a little trouble getting it through insurance, copay program saved me! I thank God for Nucala. My only side effect is headache the day of shot. I am now doing self injector at home."

• JODYb
• August 31, 2017

"Diagnosed borderline asthma when I was 21. Over the years it has steadily worsened. 8 years ago, I became steroid dependant. Other than that nothing worked. I was on literally everything I could be on and it just wasn't enough. I was afraid my pulmonologist would give me up for a lost cause. Started Nucala in January 2017. It wasn't instant, and I actually missed 2 doses, April and May. When I restarted in June, it was like something clicked. I can now participate in activities with family and friends. Almost off the steroids completely. Could not be happier with these results!"

• lindy
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• June 3, 2020

"I have been on Nucala for almost a year after being on Xolair (similar biologic) for 15 years. I haven't noticed any significant change since switching to Nucala; I very much like that I get the injection only once a month compared to every 2 weeks with Xolair. For me, it's an excellent drug to keep my severe asthma under control."

• Maritza
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 6, 2022

"I wanted to thank everyone for taking the time to write their experiences. In particular one person wrote about the different asthma medication with same affects. My asthma has been under control while on xolair, Dupixent, forget fasenra, and now Nucala. I’ve had muscle and joint pain with all of them, but this is my third month on Nucala and the muscle and joint pains are worse. I’m having a real hard time with my thumbs, severe pain even when I’m not using my hands. I’ve developed a Bone spur on my left thumb that is extremely painful to the touch. I’m not sure if I now have arthritis. I’m so confused what to do next. I guess I’ll stay on Nucala until it’s obvious beyond any doubt that it is the cause of it all, and I’m unable to manage the pain. Back, neck, spine, hands, muscle spasm on my calves, etc. I forgot to mention my Eosinophils were so high I was hospitalized, another reason why I was switched over to Nucala. I hope some will benefit!"

• TerraCh
• February 15, 2018

"I have been on this drug for 8 years. ( It was a clinical trial when I began) I was diagnosed with HES (hypereosinophilia) and it was attacking my lungs the most. Chronic pneumonia/lung infections and asthma. Despite a healthy lifestyle I could no longer walk a flight of stairs or even half a block without being winded and dizzy. Steroid use exacerbated the infections. My dr suggested the mepolizumab clinical trial. The dose was much higher via IV when I started and results were apparent within a week. Main side effect was nausea which has subsided with the lower dose. I now get monthly injections and am perfectly healthy. I work out daily and am very fit. I still have some mild asthma symptoms but rare and easily controlled without prednisone. Haven’t noticed any long term use side effects. I believe this drug saved my life. Downside is cost... Hopefully you have a great drug plan to cover it. But I would definitely recommend trying it!"

• Straw...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 10, 2020

"I have now had my second injection of Nucala, I was so happy with the results of no runny nose, chest congestion was much better I also have a back problem, and have had one hip replacement surgery and waiting for the second one. I take maintenance medications for pain management. I started with pain so bad, my joint aches, my skin hurt, I was so tired, got exhausted just going to town and trying to get groceries, I stay on my heating pad day and night. I am up and down frequently, my pain meds not working well. I made an appointment to go back to the Dr and see what can be done. I liked the results of the Nucala and what it does for my breathing. Anyone have any ideas?"

• Lila
• July 2, 2021

"I will definitely start reporting again as the symptoms are the similar to others. It’s definitely making my asthma better but I have side effects of having lower back pains, ear aches, muscle spasms which are real with this injection. Please report your side effects guys, the better data they have gathered from the community the better for the next person."