Living with a chronic medical condition comes with a long list of concerns. Are there things you can no longer do? How will this have an impact on your life and on your loved ones? What will treatment entail? And, when your specific ailment affects your ability to breathe — such as is the case with asthma — you may be wondering what’s the most efficient way to ensure adequate treatment.

What is asthma?

Asthma is a chronic condition that causes your airways to become inflamed. As a result, they narrow and produce extra mucus — making it difficult to get enough oxygen into your lungs. Although attacks could be caused by allergens, some individuals may have unknown triggers. The condition may range from mild to severe. In the most serious cases, you may experience attacks more than once a day — with symptoms worsening at night. The condition has no cure, but symptoms can be controlled. Symptoms that you’re experiencing asthma include:

• Chest tightening
• Shortness of breath
• Wheezing
• Coughing

Some people experience worsened symptoms when breathing cold air, exercising, or being around irritants — such as pollen, dust, or environmental pollution. While some individuals experience only intermittent attacks and/or can manage symptoms with an inhaler, other people may experience frequent attacks that require visits to the emergency room. This is often the case in individuals with eosinophilic asthma (EA) — a type of severe asthma caused by high levels of white blood cells called eosinophils. In healthy individuals, these cells are part of the immune system, fighting off infections. However, people with too many eosinophils experience substantial inflammation and swelling of their airways. In addition to the symptoms of a regular asthma attack, people with EA also experience chronic sinus infections, nasal polyps, and a reduced sense of smell. This is when infusion therapy can help.

Infusion Therapy for Asthma

CINQAIR® (reslizumab) is an infusion medication designed to treat eosinophilic asthma in patients who are 18 years of age or older — especially those for whom other types of medications have not worked. It improves your breathing and lung function and helps prevent future asthma attacks by reducing the number of eosinophils in the blood. Treatment is usually administered every four weeks, for 30 minutes per infusion.

Side Effects of Infusion Therapy for Asthma

As with any prescription medication, CINQAIR® has a risk of side effects, including paleness, itching, flushing, skin rash, swelling of the face, lips, mouth, or tongue, nausea, and/or abdominal discomfort. It’s also possible to experience an allergic reaction at site where the IV is inserted. To minimize the likelihood of such complications, it’s imperative to have an experienced healthcare professional monitor your infusion treatments — which is always the case at Infusion Associates.

What to Expect from Infusion Therapy for Asthma

When you first arrive at one of our facilities a nurse will sit down with you and explain all the details of your therapy sessions — this includes information about dosage, duration of treatments, and potential side effects. This is also a good time to address all your questions and concerns.

To make all our visitors feel as comfortable as possible, we’ve equipped them with cozy reclining chairs, blankets, television, and WiFi. We also offer coffee, tea, or hot cocoa. You are also welcome to bring your own snacks and beverages of choice.

If Your Doctor Has Prescribed Infusion Therapy, Let Infusion Associates Help You
At Infusion Associates, we provide medically-prescribed infusion therapy for patients with chronic conditions in a welcoming and friendly environment. Our team of healthcare professionals is committed to making the experience as comfortable as possible. We always inform patients of any potential side effects and answer all their questions before starting treatment. In addition, we have a Registered Pharmacist on staff to make the process as seamless as possible.

If you would like to refer a patient to us or want to inquire about the treatments we offer, you can contact us by calling us at /// or filling out this form.