Certolizumab, Injection

What are other names for this medicine?

Type of medicine: monoclonal antibody for tumor necrosis factor (TNF)

Generic and brand names: certolizumab, injection; Cimzia

What is this medicine used for?

This medicine is given as two separate injections under the skin in your stomach area or upper leg to treat Crohn's disease. It is used to treat people who have not responded to other treatment.

This medicine may be used alone or along with another medicine.

What should my healthcare provider know before I take this medicine?

Before taking this medicine, tell your healthcare provider if you have ever had:

• an allergic reaction to any medicine
• a weakened immune system from diseases such as HIV/AIDS or from cancer chemotherapy, radiation therapy, kidney disease, or steroid medicine
• diabetes
• high blood pressure
• heart disease
• hepatitis B or other liver problems
• lupus
• lymphoma or other cancer
• multiple sclerosis, Guillain-Barré syndrome, neuropathy, or any condition that causes numbness or tingling
• seizures
• tuberculosis (TB), a positive skin test for TB, or close contact with someone who has TB (your healthcare provider may give you a skin test to check for this).

Tell your healthcare provider if you currently have an infection such as the flu or an open cut or sore, or if you often have infections that come back. Also tell your healthcare provider if you are scheduled to have major surgery or any kind of vaccination.

Females of childbearing age: Tell your healthcare provider if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known whether this medicine will harm an unborn baby. Do not breast-feed while taking this medicine without your healthcare provider's approval.

How do I use it?

This medicine is given by subcutaneous injection (just under the skin) by your healthcare provider. Each treatment dose is usually given as 2 separate injections. You will be given additional doses 2 weeks, and then 4 weeks after the first dose. You will then get a dose every 4 weeks. Keep all your appointments.

What should I watch out for?

You may get infections more easily when you are taking this medicine. Stay away from people with colds, flu, or other infections. Contact your healthcare provider right away if you develop a fever or ANY other symptoms of infection. Also, do not have any vaccines without getting your healthcare provider's approval first.

Your healthcare provider will check you regularly to see how this medicine affects you. Keep all appointments.

This medicine may make you dizzy or cause vision changes. Do not drive or operate machinery unless you are fully alert and can see clearly.

Rarely, this medicine causes a condition called lupuslike syndrome. Its symptoms include a rash on your face or other parts of your body, chest pain or discomfort that doesn't go away, new joint pain, shortness of breath, and sensitivity to sunlight. Talk to your healthcare provider about this.

This medicine may increase your risk for certain kinds of cancer. Talk to your healthcare provider about this.

If you need emergency care, surgery, or dental work, tell the healthcare provider or dentist you are taking this medicine.

What are the possible side effects?

Along with its needed effects, your medicine may cause some unwanted side effects. Some side effects may be very serious. Some side effects may go away as your body adjusts to the medicine. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effects that continue or get worse.

Life-threatening (Report these to your healthcare provider right away. If you cannot reach your healthcare provider right away, get emergency medical care or call 911 for help): Allergic reaction (hives; itching; rash; trouble breathing; tightness in your chest; swelling of your lips, tongue, and throat).

Serious (report these to your healthcare provider right away): Yellow skin or eyes; dark urine; fever; extreme tiredness; lupuslike syndrome (rash, sensitivity to sunlight, chest pain, new joint pain); seizures; dry cough; increased shortness of breath; swelling in the legs or ankles; weakness in the arms or legs; dizziness; unusual bleeding or bruising; numbness or tingling in your hands or feet; sinus or chest infection; sudden changes in vision.

Other: Pain when urinating, runny nose, headache, stomach pain; redness, swelling, or bruising around the area where you received the infusion or injection.

What products might interact with this medicine?

When you take this medicine with other medicines, it can change the way this or any of the other medicines work. Nonprescription medicines, vitamins, natural remedies, and certain foods may also interact. Using these products together might cause harmful side effects. Talk to your healthcare provider if you are taking any other medicines.

• medicines given by injection to treat rheumatoid arthritis, such as anakinra (Kineret), adalimumab (Humira), abatacept (Orencia), etanercept (Enbrel), rituximab (Rituxan), and infliximab (Remicade)
• echinacea

Some vaccinations should not be given while you are receiving this medicine, and some should not be given for several months after you stop receiving this medicine. Ask your healthcare provider about this.

Keep a list of all your medicines with you. List all the prescription medicines, nonprescription medicines, supplements, natural remedies, and vitamins that you take. Be sure that you tell all healthcare providers who treat you about all the products you are taking.

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This advisory includes selected information only and may not include all side effects of this medicine or interactions with other medicines. Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for more information or if you have any questions.

Keep all medicines out of the reach of children.

Do not share medicines with other people.

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Published by RelayHealth.
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