Sarilumab (Subcutaneous)
Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Feb 19, 2022.
Serious infections leading to hospitalization or death including bacterial, viral, invasive fungal, and other opportunistic infections have occurred in patients receiving sarilumab.If a serious infection develops, interrupt sarilumab until the infection is controlled.Cases of tuberculosis (TB) have been reported. Prior to starting sarilumab, test for latent TB; if positive, start treatment for TB.Closely monitor patients for signs and symptoms of infection during treatment with sarilumab .
Commonly used brand name(s)
In the U.S.
- Kevzara
Available Dosage Forms:
- Solution
Therapeutic Class: Antirheumatic
Pharmacologic Class: Monoclonal Antibody
Uses for sarilumab
Sarilumab injection is used alone or together with other medicines (eg, methotrexate) to treat symptoms of moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis. Sarilumab helps keep joint damage from getting worse after other medicines have been used and did not work well. It is a monoclonal antibody.
Sarilumab is available only with your doctor's prescription.
Before using sarilumab
In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For sarilumab, the following should be considered:
Allergies
Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to sarilumab or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.
Pediatric
Appropriate studies have not been performed on the relationship of age to the effects of sarilumab injection in the pediatric population. Safety and efficacy have not been established.
Geriatric
Appropriate studies performed to date have not demonstrated geriatric-specific problems that would limit the usefulness of sarilumab injection in the elderly. However, elderly patients are more likely to have serious infections, which may require caution in patients receiving sarilumab injection.
Breastfeeding
There are no adequate studies in women for determining infant risk when using this medication during breastfeeding. Weigh the potential benefits against the potential risks before taking this medication while breastfeeding.
Interactions with medicines
Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking sarilumab, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.
Using sarilumab with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.
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