Certolizumab
Generic name: certolizumab [ SER-toe-LIZ-oo-mab ]
Brand names: Cimzia, Cimzia Starter, Cimzia Prefilled Syringe
Dosage form: subcutaneous kit (200 mg; 200 mg/mL)
Drug class:TNF alfa inhibitors
What is certolizumab?
Certolizumab is used to treat the symptoms of Crohn's disease after other treatments have failed.
Certolizumab is also used to treat rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, and plaque psoriasis.
Certolizumab may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.
Warnings
Certolizumab affects your immune system. Serious and sometimes fatal infections may occur.
Your risk of infection may be higher if you have diabetes, HIV, a weak immune system, hepatitis B, chronic infections, if you use certain medications, or if you live in or travel to certain areas.
Call your doctor at once if you have symptoms such as fever, chills, cough, diarrhea, night sweats, flu symptoms, or skin sores.
Using certolizumab may also increase your risk of developing certain types of cancer, including a rare fast-growing type of lymphoma that can be fatal.
Before taking this medicine
You should not use certolizumab if you are allergic to it. You may not be able to use certolizumab if you have symptoms of an infection such as fever, chills, cough, skin sores, shortness of breath, weight loss, diarrhea, or painful urination.
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.
Certolizumab may cause a rare type of lymphoma (cancer) of the liver, spleen, and bone marrow that can be fatal. This has occurred mainly in teenagers and young men with Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis. However, anyone with an inflammatory autoimmune disorder may have a higher risk of lymphoma. Talk with your doctor about your own risk.
Tell your doctor if you have ever had:
a chronic infection;
hepatitis B (or if you are a carrier of the virus);
lymphoma or...
