Ranibizumab: What Should I Tell My Healthcare Provider?
You should talk with your healthcare provider prior to taking
ranibizumab (
Lucentis®) if you have:
- An infection in or around the eyes
- A history of blood clot or stroke
- Any allergies, including allergies to food, dyes, or preservatives.
Also, let your healthcare provider know if you are:
- Pregnant or thinking of becoming pregnant
- Breastfeeding.
Make sure to tell your healthcare provider about all other medicines you are taking, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.
Specific Precautions and Warnings With Ranibizumab
Warnings and precautions to be aware of prior to taking ranibizumab include the following:
- As with any injection into the eye, ranibizumab can cause retinal detachment or other eye problems (although these are rare). Retinal detachment is very serious and can lead to blindness.
- Sometimes, ranibizumab injections can cause a temporary increase in the pressure inside the eye. Your healthcare provider should monitor your eyes immediately after each injection to make sure that the pressure in your eye is not too high.
- Theoretically, ranibizumab could increase your risk of blood clots or strokes. Talk with your healthcare provider about this risk, especially if you have a history of stroke or blood clots.
- Ranibizumab is unlikely to interact with other medications (see Drug Interactions With Ranibizumab).
- Ranibizumab is considered a pregnancy Category C medication. This means that it may not be safe for use during pregnancy, although the full risks are not known. Talk to your healthcare provider about the risks and benefits of using the drug while pregnant (see Lucentis and Pregnancy).
- It is not known if ranibizumab passes through breast milk. Therefore, if you are breastfeeding or plan to start, discuss this with your healthcare provider prior to taking the drug (see Lucentis and Breastfeeding).
