What to expect
Before starting treatment, it’s important that you and your doctor work together to ensure that ARIKAYCE fits in with your needs and lifestyle. When you talk with your doctor about your goals, it can help you better understand how you can track your progress as well as when you may start to see results.
Use this worksheet to help create a treatment plan with your doctor
Being prepared for possible side effects
Everyone responds to treatment differently. If you have questions about the possible side effects associated with ARIKAYCE, be sure to speak with your doctor
-
allergic inflammation of the lungs. These respiratory problems may be symptoms of allergic inflammation of the lungs and often come with:
- fever
- coughing
- fast breathing
- wheezing
- shortness of breath
- coughing up of blood (hemoptysis). Coughing up blood is a serious and common side effect of ARIKAYCE
-
severe breathing problems. Severe breathing problems can be symptoms of bronchospasm. Bronchospasm is a serious and common side effect of ARIKAYCE. Bronchospasm symptoms include:
- shortness of breath
- wheezing
- difficult or labored breathing
- coughing or chest tightness
-
worsening of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). This is a serious and common side effect of ARIKAYCE
- serious allergic reactions. Serious allergic reactions that may lead to death have happened to people who take ARIKAYCE. Stop taking ARIKAYCE right away and get emergency medical help if you have any of the following symptoms of a serious allergic reaction: hives, itching, redness or blushing of the skin (flushing), swollen lips, tongue or throat, trouble breathing or wheezing, shortness of breath, noisy high-pitched breathing (stridor), cough, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, feel cramps in your stomach area, fast heart rate, feeling light headed, feeling faint, loss of control of the bowels or bladder (incontinence), and dizziness
While using ARIKAYCE, these side effects may become serious enough that treatment in a hospital is needed.
- hearing loss or ringing in the ears (ototoxicity). Ototoxicity is a serious and common side effect of ARIKAYCE. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you have hearing loss or you hear noises in your ears, such as ringing or hissing. Tell your healthcare provider if you start having problems with balance or dizziness (vertigo)
- worsening kidney problems (nephrotoxicity). ARIKAYCE is in a class of medicines which may cause worsening kidney problems. Your healthcare provider may do a blood test to check how well your kidneys are working during your treatment with ARIKAYCE
- worsening muscle weakness (neuromuscular blockade). ARIKAYCE is in a class of medicines which can cause muscle weakness to get worse in people who already have problems with muscle weakness (myasthenia gravis)
In the clinical study, 19.7% of people taking ARIKAYCE + multidrug regimen experienced serious side effects compared to 16.1% of people taking a multidrug regimen alone
- changes in voice and hoarseness (dysphonia)
- cough during or after a dose of ARIKAYCE
- muscle pain
- sore throat
- tiredness (fatigue)
- diarrhea
- nausea
- headache
- fever
- decreased weight
- vomiting
- rash
- increased sputum
- chest discomfort
Most people who experienced side effects did not stop treatment
In the clinical study, 81% (182/224) of people taking ARIKAYCE + multidrug regimen did not stop treatment even though they had at least one side effect
These are not all of the possible side effects of ARIKAYCE. Call your doctor or pharmacist for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 (1-800-332-1088).
Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription medicines and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Keep a list of the medicines you take and show your doctor and pharmacist when you get a new medicine.
Managing potential side effects along your ARIKAYCE treatment journey
A recent survey reported potential techniques and strategies to help manage certain respiratory-related side effects when taking ARIKAYCE.
The survey was conducted via telephone with 26 people prescribed ARIKAYCE during a 2-month period at 2 academic medical centers in the United States.
Survey disclosures
- This information is not included in the ARIKAYCE full Prescribing Information
- Writing assistance was provided to the authors through funding from Insmed Incorporated
- Insmed was not involved with the conceptualization, development, conduct, or analyses of the study
Below are potential management strategies used in the survey for certain side effects. Always talk to your doctor before starting any management techniques.
Management strategy | | | | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Lozenges | ||||
Soothing fluid intake | ||||
Warm water or glycerin gargle post dosing | ||||
Limiting physical activity | ||||
Changing ARIKAYCE administration to evening | ||||
Brief interruptions of ARIKAYCE | ||||
Bronchodilator use (medicine that increases airflow to the lungs) | ||||
Antitussive agents (cough medicine) | ||||
Increased supplemental oxygen, if already administering | ||||
Airway clearance* (eg, specific breathing techniques, chest percussion, and positive expiratory pressure therapy) |
Management strategy | | | | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Lozenges | ||||
Soothing fluid intake | ||||
Warm water or glycerin gargle post dosing | ||||
Limiting physical activity | ||||
Changing ARIKAYCE administration to evening | ||||
Brief interruptions of ARIKAYCE | ||||
Bronchodilator use (medicine that increases airflow to the lungs) | ||||
Antitussive agents (cough medicine) | ||||
Increased supplemental oxygen, if already administering | ||||
Airway clearance* (eg, specific breathing techniques, chest percussion, and positive expiratory pressure therapy) |
Increased sputum production may be a form of airway clearance in itself.
Remember, management strategies should be discussed with your doctor, as they may vary by person.
Find sample questions to help you start a conversation about ARIKAYCE with your doctor by downloading this
Next, learn about taking ARIKAYCE by watching the device video