How is brolucizumab administered?
- Brolucizumab is an injectable eye preparation that is administered directly into the vitreous humor of the eye – this is a jelly-like fluid that fills the inside of the eye.
- It is administered by a qualified physician who will numb your eye and eyelids before the procedure.
- Most people only feel slight pressure and little or no pain while the injection is being administered.
- Brolucizumab is administered monthly for the first three months then 8 to 12 weekly thereafter.
Brolucizumab is an injectable eye preparation that is given to treat a particular type of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) called neovascular or wet AMD. It may also be used to treat diabetic macular edema (DME). DME is a leading cause of blindness in adults in developed countries.
Brolucizumab is administered by a qualified physician by injection directly into the vitreous humor of the eye. This is a jelly-like fluid that fills the inside of the eye.
This way of giving medicine is known as "intravitreal" which literally means "inside the eye".
Brolucizumab is initially given once a month (every 25 to 31 days) for the first three doses, then once every 8 to 12 weeks thereafter, depending on response.
Related questions
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Does brolucizumab hurt when it is given?
Before giving the brolucizumab injection, your physician will anesthetize the eye and eyelids using drops, gel, or a small numbing injection so the brolucizumab injection won’t hurt.
Povidone-iodine solution is usually used to clean around the eye and then an eyelid speculum may be used to keep the eyelids open during the procedure.
While you look in a particular direction, the physician will inject the medicine through the white part of the eye with a very small needle. Although you may feel slight pressure, there is little or no pain during the procedure which takes around 10 to 15 minutes.
How does brolucizumab work?
Brolucizumab works by blocking a substance called vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A).
VEGF-A is a protein that makes blood vessels grow, leaking fluid and blood into the retina, which damages the macula. Brolucizumab binds to the 3 major forms of VEGF-A, blocking their effects and slowing the growth of blood vessels and reducing their permeability, which controls leakage and slows vision loss.
Brolucizumab belongs to the class of medicines called Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) Inhibitors.
References
- Brolucizumab Updated 02/2022. ASHP monograph https://www.drugs.com/monograph/brolucizumab.html
- Intravitreal Injections American Society of Retina Specialists. https://www.asrs.org/patients/retinal-diseases/33/intravitreal-injections
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