TEPEZZA is Proven Effective

My name is Pam, and this is the true story of my struggle with thyroid eye disease.

Back in 2021, I went to my primary care physician because I’d had multiple symptoms that I just didn’t understand. I was really, really shaky, nervous.

Went to the primary care physician, and he told me,

Your numbers are off the charts after doing some bloodwork. And this is the worst case of hypothyroidism, I’ve ever seen.

And then it was a few months after that, that I noticed changes in my eyes.

It literally felt like something was in there pushing my eyeballs out.

I wore sunglasses outdoors and indoors to hide from the public because I didn’t want them to see what my eyes looked like.

I gradually started to see my eyes begin to look like they were pushing out from my face.

The warm compresses didn’t help. Eyedrops didn’t help. Nothing was helping me.

I wasn’t able to read license plate numbers.

They just blurred out to the point where the numbers looked like they were stacked on top of each other.

It was scary.

It was especially scary when the ophthalmologist told me, “look, I really think this is thyroid eye disease now, and it is progressing to the point where I want you to have an emergency appointment with the ophthalmic plastic surgeon.”

So I went to see the ophthalmic plastic surgeon.

He’s like “You do have TED.”

And then we can make a decision on whether TEPEZZA might be right for you.

TEPEZZA (teprotumumab-trbw) is a prescription medicine used to treat Thyroid Eye Disease or TED, no matter if you’ve had TED for months or years.

TEPEZZA may cause infusion reactions. Tell your doctor right away if you have high blood pressure, fast heartbeat, redness of the face or feeling hot, difficulty breathing, headache, or muscle pain.

Please stay tuned for additional Important Safety Information later in this video.

When the ocular plastic surgeon prescribed TEPEZZA, I could not have been more happy because I finally could get to a point where I was looking forward to seeing something positive with what was going on with my eyes, instead of something negative.

I was made aware that TEPEZZA was an infused drug and that you would take eight treatments over the course of several months.

Before I started treatment with TEPEZZA, I read about the side effects that were possible with treatment and mine I would have to say were manageable.

I did experience some nausea.

But after treatment 7 and 8 things had started to improve for me and I was happy. I knew that something good was happening.

My eyes didn’t look like they were popping out.

It was an amazing feeling.

After treatment, I think not only do I start to look more normal on the outside, I think I start to feel more normal on the inside because of that. And it’s an incredible feeling.

Thyroid eye disease is something that can take a lot away, but there’s an option there. Talk to your doctor, ask lots of questions, and be your own advocate.

When I look in the mirror. I see a fighter.

I see someone who perseveres, who never gives up.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

What is the most important information I should know about TEPEZZA?

Infusion reactions can happen during or within 24 hours after your infusion of TEPEZZA. If you have a reaction while receiving TEPEZZA, your doctor or nurse will slow or stop your infusion and treat your reaction. If you have a severe infusion reaction, your doctor may stop your treatment completely.

Tell your doctor or nurse right away if you have any of these symptoms during or after your treatment with TEPEZZA:

TEPEZZA may worsen inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), such as Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis, even if you don’t have a diagnosis of IBD before starting TEPEZZA treatment. Tell your doctor right away if you have worsening IBD symptoms, which may include diarrhea with stomach pain or cramps, blood in your stools, sudden urgency to have a bowel movement, or feeling like you need to have a bowel movement even when there’s little or no stool to pass.

TEPEZZA may cause an increase in your blood sugar. Before starting treatment with TEPEZZA, tell your doctor if you are currently being treated for diabetes, know your blood sugar is high, or have been diagnosed with diabetes. It is important for you to take your treatments and follow an appropriate diet for glucose control as prescribed by your doctor.

TEPEZZA may cause severe hearing problems including hearing loss, which in some cases may be permanent. Tell your doctor if you have any signs or symptoms of hearing problems or changes in hearing.

Before receiving TEPEZZA, tell your doctor if you:

• Have inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis).
• Are currently being treated for diabetes, have been diagnosed with diabetes, or know your blood sugar is high.
• Are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. TEPEZZA may harm your unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you become pregnant or suspect you are pregnant during treatment with TEPEZZA.
  • Women who are able to become pregnant should use an effective form of birth control (contraception) prior to starting treatment, during treatment and for at least 6 months after the final dose of TEPEZZA.
• Are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if TEPEZZA passes into your breast milk. Talk to your doctor about the best ways to feed your baby during treatment with TEPEZZA.
• Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, dietary and herbal supplements. Know the medicines you take. Keep a list of them to show your doctor and pharmacist when you get a new medicine.

What are the possible side effects of TEPEZZA?

The most common side effects of TEPEZZA include muscle cramps or spasms, nausea, hair loss, diarrhea, feeling tired, high blood sugar, hearing problems, taste changes, headache, dry skin, ear discomfort, weight loss, nail problems, and changes in menstruation.

This is not a complete list of all possible side effects. Tell your doctor or treatment team about any side effect you may have.

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA.

Visit www.fda.gov/safety/medwatch, or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

Please see Full Prescribing Information or visit TEPEZZA.com for more information.

Talk to your doctor to see if TEPEZZA could be right for you.