Formulary
Belimumab: Indications, Dosing, Side Effects and Interactions
Belimumab clinical drug profile including indications, dosing, side effects, cautions and interactions.
MedNext Academy | 3 min read
Belimumab: Indications, Dosing, Side Effects and Interactions
Belimumab clinical drug profile including indications, dosing, side effects, cautions and interactions.
Indications and dose
**Systemic lupus erythematosus (under expert supervision)**
- **Adult** (By Intravenous Infusion): 10 mg/kg every 2 weeks for 3 doses, then 10 mg/kg every 4 weeks, review treatment if no response within 6 months.
- **Adult** (By Subcutaneous Injection): 200 mg once weekly, review treatment if no response within 6 months.
**Lupus nephritis (under expert supervision)**
- **Adult** (By Intravenous Infusion): 10 mg/kg every 2 weeks for 3 doses, then 10 mg/kg every 4 weeks.
- **Adult** (By Subcutaneous Injection): 400 mg once weekly for 4 doses, then 200 mg once weekly.
**Systemic lupus erythematosus (under expert supervision) for belimumab**
- **Child 5-17 years** (By intravenous infusion): 10 mg/kg every 2 weeks for 3 doses, then 10 mg/kg every 4 weeks, review treatment if no response within 6 months.
Cautions
Do not initiate until active infections controlled; history or development of malignancy; predisposition to infection
Side effects
Common or very common Depression; diarrhoea; fever; hypersensitivity; increased risk of infection; infusion related reaction; leucopenia; migraine; nausea; pain in extremity; skin reactions Uncommon Angioedema; suicidal behaviours Frequency not known Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML); psychiatric disorder; self-injurious behaviour; severe cutaneous adverse reactions (SCARs) Side-effects, further information Hypersensitivity reactions and infusion reactions can occur, and can be severe or life-threatening. Hypersensitivity reactions are possible several days after administration. Before infusion, premedication with an antihistamine, with or without an antipyretic may be considered.
Interactions
**Other interactions (3):**
- It is not known if belimumab could be an indirect modulator of such cytokines.
- A risk for indirect reduction of CYP activity by belimumab cannot be excluded.
- On initiation or discontinuation of belimumab, therapeutic monitoring should be considered for patients being treated with CYP substrates with a narrow therapeutic index, where the dose is...
Pregnancy
Avoid unless essential.
Breast feeding
Avoid-present in milk in animal studies.
Renal impairment
Caution in severe impairment (limited information available). M
Medicinal forms
Solution,Solution
Clinical governance
**Author:** MedNext Clinical Team. **Clinical reviewer:** Dr Shameer Deen, MBBS, MS, MRCS. **Sources:** BNF, Indian Pharmacopoeia, CIMS India. **Correction:** Report errors at support@mednext.academy.
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