Tocilizumab
Generic name: tocilizumab [ TOE-si-LIZ-oo-mab ]
Brand names: Actemra, Actemra ACTPen
Dosage forms: intravenous solution (20 mg/mL); subcutaneous solution (162 mg/0.9 mL)
Drug class:Interleukin inhibitors
What is tocilizumab?
Tocilizumab is used in adults to treat:
moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis after at least one other medicine has been used and did not work;
giant cell arteritis, (inflammation in the lining of the blood vessels that carry blood from your heart to other parts of your body); and
to slow the decline in lung function caused by scleroderma with interstitial lung disease.
Tocilizumab is used in adults and children 2 years and older to treat:
polyarticular or systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis ("Still disease"); and
severe cytokine release syndrome (CRS, an overactive immune response to certain blood cell treatments for cancer).
Tocilizumab is also being studied for use in treating coronavirus. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has authorized emergency use of tocilizumab with steroid medicine to treat adults and children at least 2 years old who are hospitalized with COVID-19 and using supplemental oxygen, a ventilator, or ECMO (a heart-lung machine that helps increase oxygen in your blood).
Tocilizumab has not been approved to treat coronavirus or COVID-19. tocilizumab is not for use in treating COVID-19 outside of a hospital.
Tocilizumab may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.
Warnings
You may get infections more easily, even serious or fatal infections. Call your doctor if you have a fever, chills, aches, tiredness, cough, shortness of breath, skin sores, diarrhea, weight loss, or burning when you urinate.
Tocilizumab may also cause a perforation (a hole or tear) in your stomach or intestines. Tell your doctor if you have a fever and stomach pain with a change in your bowel habits.
Tocilizumab may also cause liver problems. Tell your doctor right away if you have right-sided stomach pain, vomiting, loss of appetite, tiredness, dark urine, clay-colored stools, or yellowing of your skin or eyes.
Before taking this medicine
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