You have COVID-19, but it is not severe enough to require hospitalization, but does your doctor think that the disease will worsen? Or has someone in your family experienced this? Sometimes, people with other medical conditions, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, or heart disease, are at higher risk of developing severe COVID-19. In such a case, you may have heard of a drug called Bamlanivimab. In this article, we will talk about this simply and clearly.
What kind of medicine is Bamlanivimab?
Simply put, Bamlanivimab is a type of medicine called a monoclonal antibody . Now you might be wondering what that is. Our body's immune system has a special type of protein that fights foreign things like viruses and bacteria. We call them antibodies. They're like soldiers in our bodies.
So, this Bamlanivimab is a synthetic antibody that was created in the lab to fight the COVID-19 virus, and it works like the natural antibodies in our body. It is usually used in combination with another similar drug (monoclonal antibody).
What happens with this?
There are several main goals of this treatment:
- Treating patients with COVID-19 who do not require hospitalization but are at high risk of severe illness.
- Reducing the risk of severe symptoms of the disease.
- Reducing the chance of being hospitalized due to illness.
- In some cases, it is also used to reduce the risk of COVID-19 infection.
Importantly, this drug is not fully approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). However, it has been authorized for emergency use under the emergency situation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Things you need to tell your doctor before taking this medicine
Before starting this treatment, it is extremely important to give your doctor a complete description of your health condition, as this information will determine whether this medication is right for you or not.
| What you need to know | Why is that important? |
|---|---|
| Any type of allergy (Allergies) | If you are allergic to this medicine or any of its ingredients, you may have a severe reaction. Be sure to tell your doctor if you have had any previous allergies to other medicines, foods, or dyes. |
| Any other serious medical condition | If you have other conditions, they may affect the way this medicine works. For example, liver disease. |
| If you have received a COVID-19 vaccine | There may be interactions between this medicine and the COVID-19 vaccine. Therefore, it is important to inform your doctor if you have received the vaccine. |
| If you are pregnant or trying to get pregnant | There is still no complete data on the safety of this medication during pregnancy. Therefore, the doctor will make a decision after considering the risks and benefits. |
| If you are a breastfeeding mother | It is not yet clear whether this medicine passes to the baby through breast milk, so talk to your doctor about this as well. |
How is this medicine administered to the body?
This is not a pill that you take home and drink. This is an injection that is given into a vein (infusion) . It is like giving you saline. It is given under medical supervision in a hospital or clinic. That means a doctor or a trained nurse is giving you this treatment.
Do you give this to young children?
Yes, in some special cases, this medicine can be recommended for young children, even newborns. But this should be done very carefully and only on the advice of a pediatrician.
What to do if you overdose?
This is given by a medical team, so the chances of this happening are very low. However, if you think you have taken too much of the medicine, call the National Poisons Information Centre at the National Hospital immediately. Or go to the Emergency Department (ETU) of the nearest hospital.
The most important thing is that this medicine is for you only. Never share it with anyone else.
What are the things to be careful about during treatment?
Your medical team will be monitoring your condition closely while you are being given this medicine. It is also important for you to be aware of some things.
- Stay alert for symptoms: If your COVID-19 symptoms don't improve, or seem to be getting worse, tell your medical team right away.
- About the COVID-19 vaccine: After taking this medicine, you will need to wait a while before getting a COVID-19 vaccine. This is because this treatment can affect the effectiveness of the vaccine. Talk to your doctor about how long you need to wait.
- Other medications: Tell your doctor about any other medications, vitamins, or herbal products you are taking.
What are the possible side effects?
Like any medicine, this one can cause some side effects. But not everyone gets them. The important thing is to know what those side effects are and what to do if they occur.
| Type of side effect | Symptoms |
|---|---|
| Serious side effects that should be reported to the doctor immediately | |
| Allergic reactions | Skin rash, itching, swelling of the face, lips, tongue or throat, difficulty breathing. |
| Infusion-related reactions | Chest pain or tightness, chills and fever, flushing, stomach ache, difficulty breathing. |
| Side effects that are usually not serious, but should be reported to the doctor if they persist | |
| Dizziness | Feeling dizzy . |
| Nausea | Feeling like vomiting. |
| Pain at the injection site | Redness, pain, or swelling at the injection site. |
This list does not include all possible side effects. If you notice anything else, talk to your doctor about it.
Where do you keep the medicine?
You don't have to worry about this. Because you won't be allowed to take this medicine home. It will be stored at the right temperature in a hospital or clinic and given to you. So you don't have to worry about storing it.
Take-Home Message
- Bamlanivimab is a special treatment for patients who are at risk of severe COVID-19 disease and are not hospitalized. It is a laboratory-made antibody.
- Before undergoing this treatment, be sure to tell your doctor about any allergies you have, other illnesses, medications you are taking, and whether you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
- This is an injection given into a vein, and it is given under medical supervision in a hospital or clinic.
- Seek immediate medical attention if you experience difficulty breathing, chest pain, or severe allergic symptoms during or after administration of the medication.
- After receiving this treatment, you should wait a certain amount of time before getting a COVID-19 vaccine. Ask your doctor for details.
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