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Tepezza

Generic name: teprotumumabTEP-roe-TOOM-ue-mab ]
Drug class: Growth hormone receptor blockers

Medically reviewed by Philip Thornton, DipPharm. Last updated on Nov 10, 2021.

What is Tepezza?

Tepezza is an insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor inhibitor (IGF-1R).

Tepezza is used to treat thyroid eye disease (sometimes called Graves Eye Disease).

Thyroid eye disease is an autoimmune disorder in which the immune system attacks tissues around the eyes. Symptoms include dry or watery eyes, eye redness, bulging eyes, vision problems, and difficulty closing the eyes.

Warnings

Follow all directions on your medicine label and package. Tell each of your healthcare providers about all your medical conditions, allergies, and all medicines you use.

Before taking this medicine

To make sure Tepezza is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have:

Tepezza may harm an unborn baby. Use effective birth control to prevent pregnancy while you are receiving Tepezza and for at least 6 months after your last dose. Tell your doctor if you become pregnant.

It may not be safe to breastfeed while using this medicine. Ask your doctor about any risk.

How is Tepezza given?

Tepezza is given as an infusion into a vein. A healthcare provider will give you this injection.

Tepezza is usually given once every 3 weeks for a total of 8 doses.

This medicine must be given slowly, and the infusion can take 60 to 90 minutes to complete.

Dosing information

Usual Adult Dose for Graves' Ophthalmopathy:

Initial dose: 10 mg/kg intravenously
Maintenance dose: 20 mg/kg intravenously every 3 weeks for 7 additional infusions

Use: Treatment of thyroid eye disease

What happens if I miss a dose?

Call your doctor for instructions if you miss an appointment for your Tepezza.

What happens if I overdose?

Since Tepezza is given by a healthcare professional in a medical setting, an overdose is unlikely to occur.

What should I avoid while receiving Tepezza?

Follow your doctor's instructions about any restrictions on food, beverages, or activity.

Tepezza side effects

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction to Tepezza: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Some side effects may occur during an injection or within 1.5 hours afterward. Tell your caregiver if you feel hot, anxious, or short of breath, or if you have a headache, muscle pain, or fast heartbeats.

Call your doctor at once if you have:

  • diarrhea (with or without blood);

  • stomach cramps;

  • bowel movements that occur suddenly;

  • loss of bowel control;

  • a feeling of not completely emptying your bowels;

  • rectal bleeding; or

  • high blood sugar - increased thirst, increased urination, dry mouth, fruity breath odor.

Common Tepezza side effects may include:

  • muscle spasms;

  • nausea, diarrhea;

  • headache, tiredness;

  • high blood sugar;

  • hair loss;

  • hearing problems;

  • dry skin; or

  • altered sense of taste.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

What other drugs will affect Tepezza?

Other drugs may affect Tepezza, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Tell your doctor about all your current medicines and any medicine you start or stop using.

Where can I get more information?

Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use Tepezza only for the indication prescribed.

Popular FAQ

Does Tepezza cause weight gain?

Weight gain or weight loss is not a known side effect with Tepezza, a prescription medicine used for the treatment of Thyroid Eye Disease (TED). Thyroid eye disease, also known as Graves' ophthalmopathy, commonly affects people with hyperthyroidism (overproduction of thyroid hormones) due to Graves' disease. Studies have shown that treatment of hyperthyroidism with anti-thyroid drug therapy or radioactive iodine therapy frequently leads to weight gain.

Tepezza (teprotumumab) is an inhibitor of insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor (IGF-1R) used to treat Thyroid Eye Disease (TED). It is a monoclonal antibody that blocks IGF-1R activation and signaling. Tepezza decreases eye bulging (proptosis) by decreasing inflammation, preventing muscle and fat tissue remodeling, and preventing tissue expansion behind the eye. Continue reading

In studies with Tepezza (teprotumumab-trbw), some patients began to see less eye bulging and double vision by 6 weeks (after the first 2 treatments). By 24 weeks, 8 out of 10 (80%) of patients saw less eye bulging compared to 10 of 100 (10%) of patients taking a placebo. Continue reading

After treatment, Tepezza has been shown in 24-week long clinical studies to reduce the eye bulging, double vision, eye pain, redness and swelling that may occur before treatment with TED. Some patients may have improvement in symptoms as early as 6 weeks. In addition, an improvement in vision (such as reading or watching TV) and in the patient’s appearance was also seen. Continue reading

Tepezza stays in your system approximately 100 days after the last dose. This is calculated by looking at the average half-life of Tepezza which is 20 days. The half-life is the time it takes for 50% of a medicine to be eliminated from the body. Research has shown that it takes 4 to 5 half-lives for a medicine to be fully cleared from the body which calculates out to 80 to 100 days or 11 to 14 weeks for Tepezza. Continue reading

No, Tepezza is not used for chemotherapy or to treat any form of cancer. Tepezza is used to treat Thyroid Eye Disease, an autoimmune disease. An autoimmune disease is a condition that causes your body's immune system to mistakenly attack healthy cells in your body instead of foreign substances. Continue reading

People with Thyroid Eye Disease (TED) prescribed Tepezza should be vaccinated against COVID-19 as soon as possible but there are no guidelines regarding preference for one COVID-19 vaccination over another or for the timing of vaccine administration. There is no evidence that people with TED are at more risk of severe COVID-19 or if Tepezza increases the risk of infection with the SARS-CoV-2 virus. There is no guidance regarding the best time to get a COVID-19 vaccination if you are on Tepezza; however, the product information states that Tepezza should not be infused at the same time as other medicines. Because Tepezza is given as a series of 8 injections every 3 weeks, and there is a risk of infusion reactions occurring with Tepezza, it may be best to allow at least 24 to 48hours between an infusion of Tepezza and a COVID-19 vaccine since, if a reaction or a side effect was to occur, it may be challenging to work out which injection was to blame. There is no reason to stop Tepezza until you complete the course of the COVID-19 vaccinations. Continue reading

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Further information

Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.