Tocilizumab (Intravenous)
Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Feb 17, 2022.
Patients treated with tocilizumab are at increased risk for infections, some progressing to serious infections leading to hospitalization or death. These infections have included bacterial infection, tuberculosis, invasive fungal, or other opportunistic infections. Evaluate for latent tuberculosis and treat if necessary prior to initiation of therapy. Monitor patients receiving tocilizumab for signs and symptoms of infection, including tuberculosis, even if initial latent tuberculosis test is negative .
Subcutaneous route(Solution)Patients treated with tocilizumab are at increased risk for infections, some progressing to serious infections leading to hospitalization or death. These infections have included bacterial infection, tuberculosis, invasive fungal, or other opportunistic infections. Evaluate for latent tuberculosis and treat if necessary prior to initiation of therapy. Monitor patients receiving tocilizumab for signs and symptoms of infection, including tuberculosis, even if initial latent tuberculosis test is negative .
Commonly used brand name(s)
In the U.S.
- Actemra
Available Dosage Forms:
- Solution
Therapeutic Class: Immunological Agent
Pharmacologic Class: Monoclonal Antibody
Uses for tocilizumab
Tocilizumab injection is used alone or together with other medicines to reduce the signs and symptoms of moderate to severe active rheumatoid arthritis. Tocilizumab helps keep joint damage from getting worse after other medicines (eg, adalimumab, etanercept, infliximab) have been used and did not work well. It is a monoclonal antibody.
Tocilizumab injection is also used alone or together with glucocorticoids (steroid medicine) to treat giant cell arteritis (inflammation of the arteries). It can be used alone after stopping treatment with glucocorticoids.
Tocilizumab injection is also used to slow the rate of decline in lung function in patients with systemic sclerosis-associated interstitial lung disease (SSc-ILD).
Tocilizumab injection is also used alone or together with methotrexate to treat polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis (PJIA) and systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis (SJIA) in children 2 years of age and older. It is also used to treat severe or life-threatening cytokine release syndrome (CRS) in adults and children 2 years of age and older.
Tocilizumab is available only with your doctor's prescription.
Before using tocilizumab
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 tocilizumab, the following should be considered:
Allergies
Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to tocilizumab 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 performed to date have not demonstrated pediatric-specific problems that would limit the usefulness of tocilizumab injection in children 2 years of age and older with PJIA, SJIA
