Sarilumab

Generic name: Sarilumab
Dosage form: subcutaneous solution (150 mg/1.14 mL; 200 mg/1.14 mL)

Usage of Sarilumab

Sarilumab is used to treat moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis in adults. Sarilumab is sometimes given together with other arthritis medicines.

Sarilumab is usually given after other treatments have failed.

Sarilumab may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

Sarilumab side effects

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction: hives; chest pain, difficult breathing, feeling like you might pass out; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Serious and sometimes fatal infections may occur during treatment with sarilumab. Stop using sarilumab and call your doctor right away if you have signs of infection such as:

  • fever, chills, sweating, body aches;
  • cough with bloody mucus;
  • feeling short of breath;
  • diarrhea, stomach pain, weight loss;
  • sores on your skin;
  • pain or burning when you urinate; or
  • feeling very tired.

    • Also call your doctor at once if you have signs of perforation (a hole or tear) in your stomach or intestines:

  • fever;
  • ongoing stomach pain; or
  • a change in bowel habits.

    • Common side effects of sarilumab may include:

  • runny or stuffy nose, sinus pain, sore throat;
  • abnormal liver function tests;
  • painful urination; or
  • skin redness where an injection was given.

    • This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

    Before taking Sarilumab

    You should not use sarilumab if you are allergic to it.

    Tell your doctor if you have ever had tuberculosis or if anyone in your household has tuberculosis. Also tell your doctor if you have recently traveled. Tuberculosis and some fungal infections are more common in certain parts of the world, and you may have been exposed during travel.

    Tell your doctor if you have ever had:

  • an active or chronic infection;
  • diabetes;
  • HIV or AIDS;
  • a weak immune system;
  • hepatitis or other liver problems;
  • stomach pain, diverticulitis, or stomach or intestinal ulcers;
  • cancer; or
  • if you have received or are scheduled to receive any vaccines.

    • Using sarilumab may increase your risk of developing certain types of cancers. Ask your doctor about this risk.

    It is not known whether sarilumab will harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.

    If you are pregnant, your name may be listed on a pregnancy registry to track the effects of sarilumab on the baby.

    You should not breast-feed while using sarilumab.

    How to use Sarilumab

    Usual Adult Dose for Rheumatoid Arthritis:

    200 mg suBCUTAneously every 2 weeksComments:-This drug may be used as monotherapy or in combination with methotrexate (MTX) or other conventional DMARDs.-Test patients for latent tuberculosis (TB); if positive, consider treating for TB prior to initiating therapy. -Avoid using this drug with biological DMARDs because of the possibility of increased immunosuppression and increased risk of infection; concurrent use with biological DMARDs such as TNF antagonists, IL-1R antagonists, anti-CD20 monoclonal antibodies and selective co-stimulation modulators has not been studied.-Avoid use in patients with active infections.Use: For the treatment of adult patients with moderately to severely active rheumatoid arthritis who have had an inadequate response or intolerance to one or more disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs)

    Warnings

    Sarilumab affects your immune system. You may get infections more easily, even serious or fatal infections. Tell your doctor if you have a fever, chills, tiredness, cough, diarrhea, stomach pain, weight loss, skin sores, or painful urination.

    Sarilumab may cause you to have a tear in your stomach or intestines. This is more likely if you have diverticulitis or a stomach ulcer, or if you also take steroids, methotrexate, or an NSAID (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug). Call your doctor right away if you have a fever and ongoing stomach pain.

    What other drugs will affect Sarilumab

    Sometimes it is not safe to use certain medications at the same time. Some drugs can affect your blood levels of other drugs you take, which may increase side effects or make the medications less effective.

    Tell your doctor about all your current medicines. Many drugs can affect sarilumab, especially:

  • any other medicines to treat rheumatoid arthritis, such as abatacept, adalimumab, anakinra, Certolizumab, etanercept, golimumab, Infliximab, rituximab, tocilizumab, or tofacitinib.

    • This list is not complete and many other drugs may affect sarilumab. This includes prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible drug interactions are listed here.

    Disclaimer

    Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Drugslib.com is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Drugslib.com information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Drugslib.com does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Drugslib.com's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Drugslib.com's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners.

    The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Drugslib.com does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Drugslib.com provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.

    Popular Keywords