How will I take this drug?
You only need to take the drug 1 time. It’s usually given at a hospital, clinic, or infusion center, and the appointment takes about 3 to 4 hours.
The treatment is an intravenous (IV) infusion, meaning the drug goes directly into your blood over about 1 hour. A nurse will insert a small needle into a vein in your arm to give you the drug.
Does the infusion hurt?
With any infusion treatment, you may feel a pinch or sting when the needle first goes in, but the feeling often goes away after a few seconds. If you feel any pain during the infusion, tell the nurse right away.
After the infusion, some people may have pain, bleeding, bruising, soreness, or swelling in the place where the needle went in. In some cases, this may lead to more serious problems, like an infection.
If you’re not sure whether what you’re feeling after the infusion is normal, it’s always okay to call your doctor or the infusion center and check.
What are the side effects?
Side effects can range from mild to serious and may include:
- Wheezing (noisy breathing that may sound like whistling) or trouble breathing
- Swollen lips, face, or throat
- Flu-like symptoms (fever, sweating, chills, cough, sore throat, headache, or muscle pain)
- Upset stomach (nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea)
- Itching, swelling, rash, or hives
- Dizziness or low blood pressure
- Changes in your heartbeat
Tell your doctor or nurse right away if you have any side effects during or after your infusion. Some of these side effects may be signs of a serious allergic reaction.
Keep in mind that only a limited number of people have taken bamlanivimab, and scientists are still learning about its side effects and risks. Serious and unexpected side effects may happen.
How can I get ready for my appointment?
- What do I need to bring with me?
- When I arrive, should I call instead of coming into the waiting room?
- Will I need someone to give me a ride home after the infusion?
What is it like to get the infusion?
To help prevent the spread of COVID-19, the nurse and other clinic staff will wear masks, gloves, and face shields.
They may also limit the time they spend near you during the infusion — but they’re still there for you if you need them.
If you have any questions or concerns during the infusion process, don’t hesitate to ask the clinic staff. It’s their job to explain what’s happening and make sure you feel comfortable.
Starting the infusion
When you get to the hospital, clinic, or infusion center, a nurse will show you to a chair where you can sit comfortably during the infusion process. The nurse will clean your arm with a special liquid that kills germs. Then they’ll insert a small needle into a vein and start the flow of medicine.
During the infusion
Once the infusion has started, it takes about 1 hour. From time to time, a nurse will come to check on you and measure your temperature, breathing, and heart rate.
When the infusion is over, you’ll need to stay for a couple of hours so the nurse can keep checking on you to make sure you’re feeling okay.
What happens after my appointment?
In the days and weeks after your infusion, your doctor or the clinic staff will keep checking with you to see how you feel and which COVID-19 symptoms you have.
They may also ask you to come in again to do another COVID-19 test or to take samples of blood from your arm.
Find an infusion site near you
Some states are partnering with the National Infusion Center Association (NICA) to make it easier to identify infusion site locations by state. Click “Go” to be redirected to the COVID infusion therapy search tool, hosted by NICA.* Please note that not all states are included and a site’s inclusion in this tool does not imply current availability of doses. If your state is not included, ask your healthcare provider to call the Lilly COVID Hotline at 1-855-545-5921 to find an infusion site near you.
Go*IMPORTANT INFORMATION: Infusion sites displayed in this tool have been authorized to administer antibody treatments for COVID-positive patients under Emergency Use Authorization. These antibody therapies are restricted to certain high-risk patients and require a drug order (similar to a prescription) from a Health Care Provider (HCP) for eligible patients. HCPs must verify eligibility of their patients and verify the availability of doses at an authorized infusion site before they refer an eligible patient to schedule an appointment to receive treatment at an authorized infusion site.