A regular injection to prevent hereditary angioedema attacks
Lanadelumab
A regular under-the-skin injection used to prevent attacks of hereditary angioedema.
What is Lanadelumab?
Lanadelumab is a specialist medicine used to prevent attacks of hereditary angioedema, a rare condition that causes sudden, severe swelling. It is given as a regular injection under the skin to reduce how often attacks happen, rather than to treat an attack once it has started. The most common side effect is a reaction where the injection is given. Because it is a preventer, people still need a separate plan and medicine to treat any attack that does break through.
Education and reference only. This is a plain-language guide to Lanadelumab — it deliberately contains no doses. Doses depend on the person, the brand and the reason for treatment, and belong with your prescriber. Always check the BNF, the product labelling (SmPC) and follow medical advice.
What it is
Lanadelumab is a medicine used to prevent attacks in people with hereditary angioedema, an inherited condition in which episodes of severe swelling affect the skin, the gut or the airway. It is a regular injection given under the skin every few weeks, aimed at lowering how often attacks occur for people who have frequent or troublesome episodes. It is a preventer, not a treatment for an attack in progress, so it is used alongside a separate plan for treating breakthrough attacks. It is prescribed and supervised by a specialist service.
How it works
Attacks of hereditary angioedema are driven by a chemical called bradykinin. Lanadelumab is an antibody that blocks an enzyme (plasma kallikrein) involved in producing bradykinin, so less bradykinin is made and attacks become less frequent. Because it works steadily in the background, it is given on a regular schedule to keep attack rates down over time. It does not stop an attack that has already started, which is why it is paired with a separate acute treatment plan.
Company & origin
Originated / developed by: Specialist manufacturer.
A specialist injection used in the UK to prevent attacks of hereditary angioedema in people who have them often.
Practical use
How to take Lanadelumab
General, dose-free guidance — always follow your prescriber's and the leaflet's specific instructions.
- Use it on the regular schedule your specialist team sets, injecting it under the skin as you have been trained.
- Keep using your separate plan and medicine for treating any attack that breaks through, as this preventer does not treat attacks.
- Inject it at the recommended intervals rather than waiting for symptoms, since it works by preventing attacks over time.
- Tell your team if you are still having frequent attacks, as the schedule may need adjusting.
- Seek emergency help straight away if an attack involves your throat, mouth or breathing.
Weighing it up
Advantages & disadvantages of Lanadelumab
Advantages
- Reduces how often hereditary angioedema attacks happen in people who have them frequently.
- Can be given as a self-injection at home after training.
- Given every few weeks rather than daily, which suits many people.
Disadvantages
- Prevents attacks but does not treat an attack that is already happening.
- Commonly causes reactions where the injection is given.
- Needs regular injections and specialist supervision.
Practical use
Good to know
The key point with lanadelumab is that it is a preventer: it reduces how often attacks happen but does not treat an attack that is already underway, so everyone using it still needs a clear plan and medicine for breakthrough attacks. It is given as a self-injection or by a carer after training, on a regular schedule that the specialist team sets and may adjust depending on how well attacks are controlled. The most common side effects are reactions where the injection is given, such as redness, pain or bruising, which usually settle. As with all hereditary angioedema, any attack involving the throat or airway is an emergency that needs urgent help regardless of being on a preventer. The specialist team reviews how well it is working and whether the schedule should change.
Who should not take it / use with caution
- People who have had a serious allergic reaction to lanadelumab should not use it.
- It is used with care, and under specialist guidance, in pregnancy.
- It should only be used under a specialist hereditary angioedema service.
Monitoring
- Reviewing how often attacks happen to judge how well it is working.
- Checking the person is confident with the injection schedule and technique.
- Adjusting the schedule over time depending on attack control.
Side effects
- Redness, pain, bruising or swelling where the injection is given.
- Headache or, in some people, mild muscle aches.
- Rarely, allergic-type reactions, which should be reported to the specialist team.
Key interactions
- It can affect some blood-clotting blood tests, so labs should know you are taking it.
- There are few well-established routine medicine interactions, but tell your team about all your medicines.
- It is used alongside, not instead of, your acute attack treatment.
Available as: A solution for injection under the skin, often given by the patient.
Answers
Lanadelumab: frequently asked questions
What is lanadelumab used for?
It is used to prevent attacks of hereditary angioedema in people who have them frequently, by lowering the production of the chemical that drives swelling.
Can I use it to treat an attack?
No. Lanadelumab is a preventer; it does not treat an attack in progress, so you still need a separate plan and medicine for breakthrough attacks.
How often is it given?
It is given as a regular injection under the skin every few weeks, on a schedule your specialist team sets and may adjust.
Can I inject it myself?
Yes, many people inject it themselves at home after their specialist team has trained them.
Will I still get attacks?
It reduces how often attacks happen but may not stop them completely, so keep your acute treatment to hand and seek emergency help for any airway swelling.
Authoritative sources
- BNF
- NICE CKS
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