For NZ residents only

How to inject NUCALA at home2

Find the information you need to inject with confidence

Your healthcare provider will give you information you need to inject properly and about monitoring for any allergic reactions. Sometimes, serious allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis, can occur hours or days later. Here you can find videos, instructions, and other useful information on how to use the NUCALA pre-filled pen for patients aged 12+.

Instruction for injecting

Complete instructions for use
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Storage information

  • Store in the refrigerator between 2°C and 8°C
  • Keep in the original carton until time of use to protect from light
  • Do not freeze. Do not shake. Keep away from heat
  • If necessary, an unopened carton can be stored outside the refrigerator at up to 30° for up to 7 days
  • Safely throw away the pre-filled pen if it is left out of the refrigerator in the unopened carton for more than 7 days
  • The pre-filled pen must be used within 8 hours after you take it out of the carton. Safely throw it away if is not used within 8 hours
  • Safely throw away medicine that is out of date or no longer needed

Warnings

  • Do not use the pre-filled pen more than 1 time. Throw away the pre-filled pen in an sharps disposal container after your injection
  • Do not share the pre-filled pen with other people. You may give other people a serious infection, or you may get a serious infection from them
  • Do not use the pre-filled pen if it was dropped or looks damaged
Keep NUCALA and all medicines out of the reach of children.
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Pre-filled Pen FAQ's

Do not use the pre-filled pen.

Contact GSK for more information at 0800 808 500.

You may change (rotate) the site (thigh or abdomen) or move the pre-filled pen as long as you have not started pressing down. If a caregiver is administering your injection you may also choose the upper-arm injection site. When the yellow needle guard is pressed, your injection will start right away.

This prevents the medicine from drying in the needle. It could affect how much medicine you get.

If this happens, you may not have received your full dose. Contact GSK for more information at 0800 808 500.

Do not use the pre-filled pen more than once. Throw away the pre-filled pen in an sharps disposal container after your injection.

Do not share the pre-filled pen with other people. You may give other people a serious infection, or you may get a serious infection from them.

Do not use the pre-filled pen. Contact GSK at 0800 808 500.

Do not use the pre-filled pen. Contact GSK at 0800 808 500.

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Important Safety Information:

Do not use NUCALA if you are allergic (hypersensitive) to mepolizumab or any of the ingredients in NUCALA.

Do not use to treat sudden breathing problems.

The most common side effects of NUCALA are headache, injection site reactions (pain, redness, swelling, itching, or a burning feeling at the injection site), back pain, and fatigue.

Tell your doctor or get emergency help right away if you think you are having an allergic reaction to NUCALA.

Any information provided on this website should be discussed with a healthcare professional and does not replace a healthcare professional's advice.

References:
  1. Data Sheet GlaxoSmithKline New Zealand. Nucala Data Sheet. GSK NZ; 2022. Available at http://www.medsafe.govt.nz/profs/datasheet/dsform.asp
  2. Consumer Medicine Information GlaxoSmithKline New Zealand. Nucala Consumer Medicine Information. GSK NZ; 2023. Available at https://www.medsafe.govt.nz/Medicines/infoSearch.asp
  3. Global Initiative for Asthma. Global Strategy for Asthma Management and Prevention 2022. Available from: www.ginasthma.org
  4. Bernstein D, Pavord ID, Chapman KR et al. Usability of mepolizumab single-use prefilled autoinjector for patient self-administration. J Asthma 2019;28:1-12
Nucala (mepolizumab 100 mg) is a Prescription Medicine, available as a 100 mg powder for injection (100 mg/ mL after reconstitution) and as a 100 mg/mL pre-filled pen (auto-injector). Nucala is used as an add-on treatment for; severe eosinophilic asthma in patients 12 years and over, severe chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) with an inadequate response to intranasal corticosteroids in adult patients 18 years and older, relapsing or refractory Eosinophilic Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis (EGPA) in adult patients aged 18 years and over, and in adult patients with inadequately controlled hypereosinophilic syndrome (HES) without an identifiable non-haematologic secondary cause. Nucala is given by injection under your skin (subcutaneous). Nucala is fully funded for severe eosinophilic asthma only; Special Authority criteria apply. Use strictly as directed. Nucala has risks and benefits. Do not stop taking your other asthma medications including inhaled and /or oral steroid asthma medications. Tell your doctor if: you have a parasitic (helminth) infection; you are taking prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements; you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant; you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. Nucala does not treat acute asthma symptoms, such as sudden asthma attack. Tell your healthcare professional or get emergency help immediately if you have any of the following symptoms of an allergic reaction: swelling of your face, mouth, and tongue, breathing problems, fainting, dizziness, feeling light-headed (low blood pressure), rash or hives. Side effects: headache, injection site reactions (pain, redness, swelling, itching, or a burning feeling at the injection site), back pain, and fatigue. Serious side effects may include allergic (hypersensitivity) reactions, including anaphylaxis. Serious allergic reactions can happen after you get your injection of Nucala. Allergic reactions can sometimes happen hours or days after you get a dose of Nucala. Herpes zoster infections that can cause shingles have happened in people who received Nucala. If symptoms continue or you have side effects, see your doctor, pharmacist or health care professional. For more information, see Nucala Consumer Medicine Information at www.medsafe.govt.nz. Ask your doctor if Nucala is right for you. Normal doctor's charges apply.

This website is intended for residents of New Zealand only.