Approved Use: TEPEZZA is for adults with Thyroid Eye Disease (TED), no matter if they've had TED for months or years.
For US Residents Only
For US Residents Only
Understanding TED is the first step to getting the right care. Learn how TED affects the eye, how it's diagnosed, who treats it, risk factors, and how it differs from Graves' disease.
TED is an autoimmune condition in which your body’s immune system mistakenly attacks the tissue behind your eyes, causing inflammation and swelling of the muscles and fat tissue.
TED can lead to symptoms like:
TED looks different for everyone:
Eye during periods of inflammation
Eye with long-term changes
Eye during periods of inflammation
Eye with long-term changes
The first step is a baseline eye exam. Your doctor will look for signs of TED. They may also order a CT scan or MRI to see what's happening behind the eye.
If your eyes are bulging, your doctor may use a tool called an exophthalmometer to measure how far they stick out.
Your doctor will also ask about your medical history. They may want to know if you have a thyroid condition, if anyone in your family has had thyroid problems, or if you smoke. A blood test can help determine if your thyroid isn't functioning correctly. Thyroid disorders are frequently, though not always, linked to TED.
Not every doctor has experience with TED. A TED Specialist has the training and experience to diagnose TED and provide the care you may need.
TED and Graves’ disease are different diseases that need different treatment.
Up to 40% of people diagnosed with Graves’ disease could develop TED
Doctors may use a number of different names for TED. Some of these even contain the word Graves’. If you read or hear any of these terms used, they mean Thyroid Eye Disease:
It's not fully known why some people develop TED and others don't. But doctors have identified certain factors that can put people at greater risk.
Thyroid Problems: Graves’ disease and other thyroid conditions, such as hyperthyroidism and Hashimoto’s disease, are known risk factors for TED
Gender: Women are about 5 times more likely than men to develop TED
Smoking: People who smoke are up to 8 times more likely to develop TED
Radioactive iodine treatment: Radioactive iodine may be used to treat Graves' disease and other thyroid conditions
Age: TED occurs more often in people who are 50 years or older
Family history: Thyroid conditions often run in families. Having a family history of Graves' disease or similar conditions may increase the risk of having them yourself, and TED is often linked with thyroid dysfunction
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.
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.
Cases of encephalopathy, a condition that affects how the brain works, have been reported in people treated with TEPEZZA. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you, your family member, or caregiver notice any change in your mental status (e.g., confusion, changes in thinking or behavior, memory problems, excessive sleepiness, difficulty speaking, seizures or decreased responsiveness). Your healthcare provider may stop or delay TEPEZZA while they evaluate and treat you as required.
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.
TEPEZZA is a prescription medicine used to treat Thyroid Eye Disease (TED), no matter if you’ve had TED for months or years.
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.
